title: Interest groups and health reform: lessons from California.
abstract: We review the 1992 policy choices in California for expanding health insurance coverage, focusing on the rejection of an employer mandate by legislators and voters. We analyze how interest-group politics, gubernatorial politics, and national politics shaped those choices. Although public opinion and the shift of organized medicine showed considerable support for extending health insurance coverage, the opposition of liberal and conservative groups and a foundering economy prevented a significant change in public policy. The president's health reform plan appears to address many of the unresolved concerns in California, but overcoming resistance to any kind of mandate will require skilled leadership and negotiation.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Dowell
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California; D002755:Choice Behavior; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007857:Leadership; D008119:Lobbying; D009310:National Health Insurance, United States / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017008:Negotiating; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D011639:Public Opinion; D014481:United States