The United States stands alone in its reliance on the private sector to finance health care devlivery. Whith spending surpassing $ 1.5 trillion in 2002, even staunch advocates of the private enterprise system harbor secret doubts about the ability   of the private sector to deliver quality medical care at reasonable prices to everyoun who has a medical need. Does the future of U.S. health care delivery involve a larger role for government, or gorvernment in the provision of care is evident at both ends of the age spectrum.

The introduction of a prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients guarantees that prescription drug spending will be the focuts of an ongoiing   polichy dialogue for years   to come. Continued pressure to expand the availability of health insurance to children will keep the Children's Health Insurance Program high on the list of polichy issues. Health Economics and Policy provides important background information, not only on these two   important programs affecting the young and the elderly, but addresses the entire spectrum of economic and policy issues that affect the rest of the population.

-   This tex's primary goals are to enable readers to
-   Recognize the relevance of economics to health and medical
    care and to apply economic reasoning to better understand
    health-related issues.
-   Understand the mechanisms of health care delivery in the   
    United States with in broad social, political, and economic
    conterts.
-   Explore the changing nature of healh and medical care and its
    implications for medical   care and its implications for mediacl
    practice, medical education and research, and health policy.
-   Analyex pulic polcy in health and medical care from an
    economiic   perspective.

Part 1 The Relevance Of Economics In Health And Medical Care
Part 2 Demand-Side Considerations
Part 3 Supply-Side Considerations
Part 4 Confounding Factors-salt
Part 5 Public Policy In Medical Care Delivery