Review by Choice Review
The editors of this timely, well-written volume are highly reputable economists with backgrounds in the Congressional Budget Office (Rivlin was the founding director). They represent different political philosophies, as do the other contributors. The result is a balanced contribution to the literature assessing approaches to achieving the goals of "higher quality, greater efficiency, broader coverage, and slower overall health spending growth." Contributors delineate and analyze the roles of government, private payers, and the institutions of health care with respect to these goals. Economic analysis is nicely applied to these payment systems. Chapter 2, written by the editors, addresses "strategies for slowing the growth of health spending" together with "seeking efficient and effective care." Table 2.1 lists reform options (e.g., improve price setting, promote consumerism, limit outlays) together with the appropriate strategies, such as reimbursement based on performance. Chapter 6, by Paul B. Ginsburg, analyzes the roles of market forces, especially private payers, in providing greater efficiency in health care spending. Other chapters detail the central issues in Medicare and Medicaid and offer some political insights. Chapter-end notes and references. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; students, lower-division undergraduate and up; faculty and professionals. F. W. Musgrave Ithaca College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
