Understanding health policy : a clinical approach / Thomas S. Bodenheimer, Kevin Grumbach.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: the changing U.S. health care system -- Paying for health care -- Access to health care -- Reimbursing health care providers -- Capitation payment in managed care -- How health care is organized: I -- How health care is organized: II -- Painful versus painless cost control -- Mechanisms for controlling costs -- Long-term care -- The prevention of illness -- The quality of health care -- medical ethics and the rationing of health care -- Health care in four nations -- National health insurance -- Conflict and change in U.S. health care -- The health care workforce -- Conclusion: tensions and challenges.