Healthcare reform: current and proposed approaches.
OBJECTIVE
To explain some of the healthcare reforms currently under consideration by the U.S. Congress.


METHODS
Published reports, government documents, and journal articles.


RESULTS
Healthcare reforms are being proposed to address the issues of cost containment, universal access, and quality of care. Elements of the current and proposed healthcare reform plans are reviewed and clarified.


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of some sort of reform seems inevitable; however, the design of the final package will depend on a variety of financial, political, and social pressures.


CONCLUSIONS
If nurses are aware of the proposed changes, they can participate as decision makers, articulate the rules as consumers, and understand the issues as providers.
Jordan
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Hospice of Seattle, Providence Homecare in Seattle, WA.
D003363:Cost Control; D003657:Decision Making; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009310:National Health Insurance, United States; D017008:Negotiating; D009726:Nurses; D011057:Politics; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012380:Role; D014481:United States