Health Economics - by Steven Eastaugh (Paperback)

About the Book

Companion v. to: Health care finance. 1992.

Book Synopsis

This book is a thorough, balanced, and insightful study of the present status and future direction of health care economics and its far-reaching ramifications. Health Economics provides exhaustive analyses of such major issues as cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, quality enhancement, and technology assessment.

Part One presents a basic overview of cost analysis, production functions, and provider cost behavior. Part Two considers economic models of physicians and hospital behavior, and recent changes in methods for paying physicians. Part Three focuses on employee cost sharing, HMOs, gatekeepers to contain utilization, and the use of case managers in long-term care. Part four looks at equity, social welfare, and the unique problems of urban medical centers. Part Five focuses on consumer information, quality measurement, and health manpower policies for nonphysician providers. Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis is reviewed in Part Six. The last part summarizes major future policy options and suggests a number of mixed strategies, including capitation. In short, Health Economics provides policy makers, health care providers, and students with the analytical tools needed to effectively balance efficiency and quality.

Review Quotes

?Health Economics offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration into the ever-evolving and continually challenging system of health care economics for this decade. Hospital administrators, directors, managers, and physicians as well as others in health care with a concern for out-of-control costs would appreciate the author's perspective.?-Clinical Gerontologist

?The book is an excellent introduction to the major issues affecting the health care sector today, and students can read sections at a time, where they will be introduced to some of the most important research in the fields of health services research and health policy.?-Academic Medicine

"The book is an excellent introduction to the major issues affecting the health care sector today, and students can read sections at a time, where they will be introduced to some of the most important research in the fields of health services research and health policy."-Academic Medicine

"Health Economics offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration into the ever-evolving and continually challenging system of health care economics for this decade. Hospital administrators, directors, managers, and physicians as well as others in health care with a concern for out-of-control costs would appreciate the author's perspective."-Clinical Gerontologist

About the Author

STEVEN R. EASTAUGH is Professor of Health Economics and Finance at George Washington University. The winner of numerous awards, including the American College of Healthcare Executives Edgar Hayhow Award, Professor Eastaugh has published widely in the areas of health care economics and finance. His companion volume, Health Care Finance, will also be issued by Auburn House in 1992.