Health care reform: clarifying the concepts.
Despite agreement about problems with the health care system, there is disagreement about the remedy. Like most health care reform debates, this article focuses on financing methods rather than service delivery. Reform strategies are intentionally oversimplified into four categories: employer-based or "play or pay"; single-payer and modifications, such as expanding Medicaid or Medicare; market competition; and managed competition, which appears to be favored by the Clinton administration. Cost-control mechanisms and insurance reforms are applicable to all four financing methods. Reform is inevitable. The challenge for nurses is to understand reform issues and then influence policymakers to initiate reforms that make essential medical and preventive services universally available.
Miller
A M
AM
Ball State University, School of Nursing, Muncie, IN 47306.
D016536:Competitive Medical Plans / Q000191:economics; D003363:Cost Control; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics; D009310:National Health Insurance, United States / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States