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How do you go about choosing between health insurance plans . . . selecting a hospital. . .choosing a doctor? These are just some of the difficult decisions certain to have a profound impact on your physical, emotional, and financial well-being for years to come.
This comprehensive guide shows you how to make knowledgeable choices--how to get everything you require from our nation's $600 billion a year health care system. Health Care Services in the 1990s provides life-or-death information about ambulatory care, long-term care, and mental health services. Learn about the changing roles of physicians and dentists. . .insurance vs. pre-paid plans. . .how hospitals and physicians get current addresses, contact information, and toll-free telephone numbers of agencies capable of anwersing questions about specific needs and situations. health care system, and proceeds with the active role of the consumer as a partner in the system, protecting and promoting one's own health. The book also describes ways in which the system's resources can be most advantageous when the consumer is not in bad health. The book progresses with a detailed exploration of the major components of the system, and analyzes functions such as ambulatory care, the choice of a hospital and its services, long term care, the nursing home, and mental health services. The major providers of care (the physicians, dentists, and other relevant providers) and how to work with them are discussed. Consumer approaches to health insurance, governmental health care programs, and financial considerations are also addressed. The quality of health care from the consumer viewpoint and protection of consumer rights inherent in the system is another aspect covered in this valuable book. Alternatives to the traditional health care system are also provided.
List of contents
Preface
Your Role in Health CareBeing Informed: Understanding the System
Taking Charge: Promoting Your Own Health
Be the Best that You Can
Protecting Your Life: Where Care Is GivenAmbulatory Care: Backbone of the System
The Hospital: Big Risks, Big Rewards
Long-Term Care: Many Choices, Many Opportunities; Mental Health: A Real Challenge
The Powers That Be: Who Gives Care?Your Physician: A Key Player
Dentists: Real Success, Fading Future
The Supporting Cast: Other Important Providers
Paying The Bill: Health InsuranceHealth Insurance: What It Is, How It Works; Managed Care: Lower Cost, More Restrictions
Paying The Bill: Governmental ProgramsMedicare: A Partial Help
The Uninsured and Underinsured: Squeezed and in Trouble
Financing and Reimbursement: Who Gets Paid And HowNational Health Expenditures
Payments to Professionals and Institutions
The Quality of CareMeasuring and Assuring the Quality of Care
Your Rights as a Consumer
Alternatives To Traditional MedicineNew Approaches To Special Situations
Bypassing Traditional Resources
Epilogue
Appendix A: Sources of Information
Appendix B: Toll-Free Numbers
Appendix C: State Medical Boards, Medicare Carriers, and PROS
Index
About the author
STEPHEN J. WILLIAMS is a professor and head of the division of health services administration, and head of the graduate program in health services administration at the Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California. Dr. Williams is the author of numerous books and articles on health care.
SANDRA J. GUERRA is the Clayton Foundation Administrator at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California.
