An Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System

Completely expanded and updated to account for the latest changes in the U.S. health care system, this best-selling text remains the most concise and balanced introduction to the domestic health care system. Like its predecessors, it provides an accessible overview of the basic components of the system: healthcare personnel, hospitals and other institutions, the federal government, financing and payment mechanisms, and managed care. Finally, it provides an insightful look at the prospects for health care reform.

Steven Jonas, a revered expert in public health, has enlisted his colleagues, Drs. Raymond and Karen Goldsteen, to add their expertise in public health and health policy and management to this outstanding volume. All students of health care administration and policy, as well as practicing healthcare professionals who simply want a relatively brief overview of the system, will find it useful.

Steven Jonas, MD, MPH, MS, is Professor of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, and Professor, Graduate Program in Public Health, at Stony Brook University (NY).

Raymond L. Goldsteen, DrPH, is professor emeritus of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, at the Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, where he was founding director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

Karen Goldsteen, PhD, MPH, is affiliated research associate professor of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine at the Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University.