WILLIAM C. HSIAO and YUANLI LIU
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195137408
- eISBN:
- 9780199863983
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195137408.003.0018
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter on health care financing introduces financing as one aspect of the health system that affects health equity. The configuration of financing, defined as both mobilization of financial ...
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This chapter on health care financing introduces financing as one aspect of the health system that affects health equity. The configuration of financing, defined as both mobilization of financial resources and the allocation of those resources to the population, will affect health outcomes in two important ways. First, it determines, in part, the availability of health care and who has access to it. Second, it dictates the degree of financial protection offered against catastrophic costs of illness. It is argued that although financing issues often tend to dominate debates and prescriptions for health systems reform, methods of financing are but one aspect of a broad health system that involves institutions, policies, and human resources.Less
This chapter on health care financing introduces financing as one aspect of the health system that affects health equity. The configuration of financing, defined as both mobilization of financial resources and the allocation of those resources to the population, will affect health outcomes in two important ways. First, it determines, in part, the availability of health care and who has access to it. Second, it dictates the degree of financial protection offered against catastrophic costs of illness. It is argued that although financing issues often tend to dominate debates and prescriptions for health systems reform, methods of financing are but one aspect of a broad health system that involves institutions, policies, and human resources.
Deborah Stone
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195170665
- eISBN:
- 9780199850204
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195170665.003.0022
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics
This chapter focuses on racial disparities in health care. It shows how certain principles of political organization in culture in the United States perpetuate racial disparities. The chapter ...
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This chapter focuses on racial disparities in health care. It shows how certain principles of political organization in culture in the United States perpetuate racial disparities. The chapter suggests that market ideology is the biggest obstacle to health-care equity. The U.S. health-care system is designed to produce disparities, since it allocates medical care primarily by market criteria rather than by medical need. Market principles generate racial and ethnic disparities, and allow racism to continue under cover of economic justifications. The chapter argues that the nation will not be able to ameliorate racial and ethnic disparities until political leaders are willing to face up to the consequences of their devotion to the pluralistic ideals in medicine.Less
This chapter focuses on racial disparities in health care. It shows how certain principles of political organization in culture in the United States perpetuate racial disparities. The chapter suggests that market ideology is the biggest obstacle to health-care equity. The U.S. health-care system is designed to produce disparities, since it allocates medical care primarily by market criteria rather than by medical need. Market principles generate racial and ethnic disparities, and allow racism to continue under cover of economic justifications. The chapter argues that the nation will not be able to ameliorate racial and ethnic disparities until political leaders are willing to face up to the consequences of their devotion to the pluralistic ideals in medicine.
