Medicaid Politics and Policy

摘要: Medicaid is a story worth telling, one rooted in American history and shaped by its culture institutions. It has dramatic interest, heroes heroines, triumphs tragedies. The authors make this come alive for the reader providing strong connected narrative, detailed accounts of important policy changes, extensive use interviews with individuals close to events. They emphasize politics along history. History because developed incrementally, layer layer, so that almost any provision or activity needs historical gloss understand it. program been especially subject outside political influences: state economy, trends federalism, developments health welfare programs, electoral cycle. Politics helps us outcomes. But two go together: knowledge what at stake, shows possible. A central theme book "weak entitlement," less established effectively defended than Medicare Social Security, but more secure food stamps. flexibility adapt (or be adapted) as well capacity defend incremental opportunistic gains. At same time, lacks an effective mechanism overall reform. grown enormously since inception become largest insurance system country, source perennial complaint and, most recently, continuing crisis. dual emphasis upon arcane accessible reader, distinguish grounded facts analysis from partisan bombast ideology. result authoritative account reference those seeking refresh perspective look further.