Resources: Book List and Web Sites
BOOK LIST
(* Recommended if time is limited)
“A Second Opinion:Rescuing America’s Health Care”, Dr. Arnold Relman.Diagnosis of what went wrong with American health care and offers solution – single payer insurance program supported by a progressive health care tax, coupled with a reformed delivery system, primarily not-for-profit.
“Sick:The Untold Story of America’s Health Care Crisis---and the People who Pay the Price”, Jonathon Cohen.Good description of original intent of health insurance, health maintenance organizations, for profit healthcare, etc and how it went awry after exposure to free-market pressures.
*Health Care Meltdown: Confronting the Myths and Fixing Our Failing System by Robert H. Lebow
Health Care Meltdown is honest, engaging, and sure to stimulate discussion with its clear prescription for change. Regardless of how deeply you presently understand America's health care system, you can learn from this book. And regardless of your political inclinations in respect to his advocacy of a single-payer solution, you can't ignore his meticulous presentation of the facts or the relentless logic of his conclusions
The Buck Stops Nowhere by Kathleen O’Connor
O’Connor lays bare the complex problems in America’s health care system. The book is consumer friendly and offers background and historical perspective, clever delineation of the diverse and competing stakeholders, and tell-it-like-it-is honesty as to how to effect change.
Epidemic of Care: A Call for Safer, Better, and More Accountable Health Care by George C. Halvorson, George J. Isham
The authors argue that it is time for all parties--payers, providers, consumers and policymakers--to recognize that the U.S. is approaching a major health care crisis that is driven by the way we deliver, receive, and pay for care. The book offers a convincing portrayal how this impending crisis will impact nearly every segment of our society.
The Brave New World of Health Care by Richard D. Lamm
Lamm exposes the problems existing not only in policy and professional circles, but also in public attitude and expectations. He provides a framework for reform, seeking to rebuild the shabby “house of health care.”
The Truth About the Drug Companies by Marcia Angell.
Dr Angell summarizes the reasons why drugs are so expensive in United States. She proposes specific reforms for restoring the industry to its purpose while making drugs more affordable and safer.
As Sick as It Gets: The Shocking Reality of America's Healthcare, A Diagnosis and Treatment Plan by Rudolph J. Mueller
Dr. Mueller says, "There is no question that there are numerous Americans who are sick who would not be if they lived in Europe, Canada, or Japan, where they would have had accessible primary and preventative care." The author argues that a reformed system could be achieved through the careful, businesslike approach he outlines.
WEB SITES
(* Recommended if time is limited)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ – www.ahrq.gov) is the lead agency for health care quality for the federal government. One site of interest: www.qualitytools.ahrq.gov). There are state level utilization report and reports on health disparities. You can sign up for newsletters here too.
American Medical Students Association http://www.amsa.org/uhc/ 30,000 members nationwide endorse a Universal Health Care system for all Americans. American College of Physicians www.acponline.org/uninsured/lack-contents.htm No Health Insurance? It's Enough to Make You Sick - Scientific Research Linking the Lack of Health Coverage to Poor Health
ACTION GROUPS
*Archimedes Movement http://www.archimedesmovement.org/
The Archimedes Movement, by creating opportunities for community engagement, provides a vehicle through which the growing concern over the U.S. health care system can be channeled into effective action
Campaign for a National Health Program Now! www.cnhpnow.orgA large group working together with Physicians for a National Health Program, major labor unions and the faith-based community, in support of National Health Insurance Bill HR 676
American Health Care Reform ericanhealthcarereform.org/http://am
Where is America's justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope when it comes to our health care system? It's in the pockets of the rich and powerful
American Medical Women's Association www.amwa-doc.org/publications/Position_Papers/universal_access.htm
An organization of women physicians and medical students. Position paper on Universal Access to Health Care and Health System Reform
Annie E. Casey FoundationYou can find information about health insurance coverage for children atwww.aecf.org/kidscount.
BostonUniversitySchool of Public Health U.S. Health Reform Program
http:// dcc2.bumc.bu.edu/hs/accessandaffordability.htm
Center for American Progress http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=11211
*Center for Studying Health System Change http://www.hschange.org/index.cgi?file=about
Code Blue Now www.codebluenow.org
A national grassroots education and advocacy group committed to positive change in the U.S. health care system.
Commonwealth Fund http://www.cmwf.org/
Private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults. The Commonwealth Fund’s sitealso addresses health care policy.You can sign up for e–newsletters here too.
CoverTheUninsuredWeek www.covertheuninsuredweek.org
There is general health coverage information. 2004 Honorary Co-Chairs: Former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter
Everybody In, Nobody Out www.everybodyinnobodyout.org
Supports state organizations working at the grassroots for universal health care (UHC).
*Families USA http://www.familiesusa.org/index.html
National nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
Health Affairs: Policy Journal of the Health Sphere http://www.healthaffairs.org/
Health Care For All http://www.healthcareforall.org/
California
Health Care For All http://www.hcfama.org/
Massachusetts
Health Care For All http://www.healthcareforalloregon.org/
Oregon
* Health Care For All http://www.healthcareforallwa.org/
Washington
*Health Care Now www.Healthcare-now.org
If you are an organizer or a community person who would like to get healthcare for all in this country, be in touch with us right away.
Health Care Watch http://www.healthpolicywatch.org/
Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org The Kaiser Family Foundation has a site with health data from all states: www.statehealthfacts.org.There is also health policy information on their site: www.kff.org.You can sign up for regular health policy e-newsletters there.Also check out: www.kaiseredu.org for health policy tutorials.
Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
Old Dominion University Perry Librarysite has a list or resources. Go to www.lib.odu.edu> “Resources by Subject” > “Health-Medicine-Nursing” > “Community and Environmental Health”.The databases are accessible only with an ODU ID, but the websites listed are accessible.Just click.
Medscape.com is mostly clinical, but also has health care financing information. You can also sign up for newsletters at this site. One report of interest: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545565_print.
*National Coalition on Health Care http://www.nchc.org say "Health care coverage for all is needed to assure quality of care, to improve the health status of Americans, and to enable us to control costs and to simplify the system. It is an essential social policy goal." They
The National Conference of State Legislatures (www.ncsl.org) tracks health care legislation across states. Go to “Issue Areas” and look for the three sections dedicated to health.One place of interest: www.ncsl.org/programs/health/universalhealth2006.htm.
National Patient Advocate Foundation http://www.npaf.org/about.php
*Physicians for a National Health Program www.pnhp.org More than 9,000 licensed physicians advocating National Health Insurance.
The Century Foundation http://www.tcf.org
*UHCAN- Universal Health Care Action Network www.uhcan.org
Nationwide network that promotes comprehensive health care for all through education, strategy development and advocacy.
The Virginia League has a statement on Mental Health. You can access their site off the national site. Go to “Positions in Brief” > “Positions in Full” > “Social Policy” > “Mental Health”
*Washington for Health Care http://www.waforhealthcare.org/
Be a part of the movement to achieve quality, affordable health care for all.
Women’s Health Institute http://www.wuhi.org/index.html
Advocates universal health
World Health Organization http://www.who.dk/aboutwho