Suchergebnisse

Examines reasons for the growth of health maintenance organizations and managed care, the problems engendered, and why they continue despite dissatisfaction among key participants.

Advocates universal & comprehensive health insurance (1) to cover the 16% of Americans who now have no public or private coverage; (2) to help hospitals pressured to end the cross-subsidies that previously enabled them to care for the uninsured; (3) to protect the jobs &, thus, the communities of health care workers; & (4) to improve the care received by the currently underinsured. It is allowed, however, that the US nonparliamentary political system all but precludes the enactment of the sort of ambitious, cohesive plan needed to repair the health care system. Thus, even though an incremental approach tends to politically weaken those it does not directly help, several smaller steps for improving the organization & financing of care are suggested: (A) slowing the shift of not-for-profit providers to the for-profit sector, possibly through the power of the states' attorneys general; (B) regulating & demanding greater accountability from health maintenance organizations; & (C) strengthening & improving Medicare. E. Blackwell

A summary of data on twin problems in the health field: (1) the increasing number of Americans without health insurance; & (2) the increasing costs of health care. It is argued that these problems can be addressed by a national health insurance program that makes comprehensive benefits universally available & that operates within prescribed budgets. The characteristics of such a program are discussed. AA