An Introduction to Health Policy: A Primer for Physicians and Medical Students

Based on the current climate of our nation’s finances and healthcare spending, it is clear that young doctors and medical students are likely to see a dramatic transformation of the manner in which America offers medical care to its citizens over the course of their careers.  As such, it is pivotal that the next generation of America’s leaders on the front lines of medicine develop a sense of where healthcare has evolved from and future potential directions of change. An Introduction to Health Policy: A Primer for Physicians and Medical Students is the first of its kind: a book written by doctors for doctors in order to allow busy physicians and medical students to quickly develop an understanding of the key issues facing American healthcare. This book seeks to efficiently and effectively educate physicians and medical students in a clinical context that they can understand on the past, present, and potential future issues in healthcare policy and the evolution of American healthcare. The reader will walk away from the book with the ability to discuss the fundamental issues in American healthcare with ease.

With healthcare expenditures in the United States currently totaling over $3.1 trillion and the prospect that this spending will continue to increase exponentially over the next several years, an appreciation of the evolution of healthcare policy in the United States and the subsequent changes that are expected to occur in the delivery and financing of these services is critical for those in the healthcare field. An Introduction to Health Policy: A Primer for Physicians and Medical Students is the first book of its kind written by physician leaders in health policy across the United States to aid doctors and students in developing an understanding of the key issues that have shaped health policy and the transformative nature of these changes on healthcare delivery in America.

The book includes coverage of these topics:

· Historical context in which healthcare evolved in the 20th century

· Origins of Medicare and Medicaid and the challenges facing these programs

· Understanding quality and cost in health policy

· The benefits and challenges of health information technology

· The economics of healthcare

· Proposed models for payment reform

· International systems of care and consumer-driven healthcare

· Understanding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act