Health Affairs
Web Exclusive
August 27, 2003
The Politics Of Health Reform: Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good Plans? In the United States, the more desirable health care reform is on substantive grounds, the less politically feasible it is.
by Jonathan Oberlander
Abstract:
This paper examines political feasibility and its implications for health reform. I discuss the political obstacles to health reform in the United States, disentangling perennial barriers from contemporary constraints. I then explore major reform options and their political prospects. I argue that while incremental reform now appears to be the most feasible option, the political climate may change in a way that permits a bolder vision.
Moreover, incremental reform may not be sustainable in the long run,for the
same reason that makes it politically popular now: It does not change the
status quo in the health system.
http://www.healthaffairs.org/WebExclusives/Oberlander_Web_Excl_082703.htm
PDF format:
http://www.healthaffairs.org/WebExclusives/2206Oberlander.pdf
Comment: As I read this article to select the “Quote of the Day,” I was
overwhelmed with the number of possibilities. And I was concerned that the
individual provocative comments would distract readers from the extremely
important overall perspectives presented by Professor Oberlander.Therefore
I am distributing only the abstract.
This article should be read in its entirety by everyone who is dedicated to
reforming our health care system. Down load it and print it out (in the
PDF format for easier reading). It should become a part of your health policy
library.