Health Care Policy and Politics A to Z (Health Care Policy & Politics A to Z) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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Readers familiar with CQ's A^-Z approach will be comfortable with this volume, which covers Abortion to Zidovudin. In addition to telling the difference between a gag clause (by which managed-care plans limit what doctors can tell their patients about treatment options) and a gag rule (a name applied to regulations that bar abortion counseling and referrals in federally funded family planning facilities), the book gives overviews of the AIDS crisis and the evolution of the office of Surgeon General, describes the Tuskegee experiments, and defines numerous acronyms that pepper anything written about health policy in the U.S.

The entries are simply written, which allows the target audience of laypeople to understand the jargon used in debating health policy issues and to appreciate the history and conflict of the issues themselves. The author, a health-care reporter for CQ Weekly Report, the Medical News Network, National Journal's CongressDaily, and NPR, attributes her "Congress centric" approach to the fact that Congress is where health policy is made.

One appendix lists "Congressional Committees Responsible for Health Care Policy"; another lists organizations (government agencies, foundations, interest groups, etc.) that can provide further information. In addition to the alphabetical table of contents, there is an index that leads readers to multiple related entries.

Although there is nothing here that could not be found elsewhere, the consistent writing, convenience of having all the information in one place, and accessible arrangement make this a recommended purchase for most high-school and public libraries and some medical libraries.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Description

A one-volume reference on health care policies and debates in America. Author Julie Rovner explains the significant changes that the private sector, Congress, federal and state courts and state legislatures have made in the nation's health system.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 282 pages
• Publisher: CQ Press; 2 Sub edition (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568028520
• ISBN-13: 978-1568028521
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,977,416 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read!, January 7, 2000

By	David Nather (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Health Care Policy and Politics A to Z (Cq's Ready Reference Encyclopedia of American Government) (Hardcover)

Outstanding! The most comprehensive overview of the subject to date. Clear, authoritative, and a brisk read, this book is indispensable to anyone who wants to understand how health care policy is made and how it affects us all.