Abstract
This paper presents and evaluates some of the changes currently taking place in today's health care environment. In particular, it focuses on managed care initiatives and health insurance. The writer recognizes that some of the changes occurring with health care reform are positive, such as cutting costs and promoting preventive medicine. However, these changes are not without concern. The paper concludes by stating that the problems arising from health care reform need to be understood so that the needs of the patients are put first.

From the Paper
"Several years ago, health care reform was a hot political topic with President Bill Clinton's proposals to revolutionize medical health insurance. Even though his proposals didn't become law, sweeping changes are occurring within the health care system, particularly in regards to managed care health insurance and the reengineering of the hospital. The goals of these changes are to cut medical costs, make the delivery of health care more efficient, and to promote preventive medicine, health, and primary care. While these changes are positive in many ways, they are also creating concerns among both the health care consumer and provider. These changes must be managed to insure that high quality care remains at the forefront of medical care."

Tags:health, care, managed, care, health, insurance, hospitals, patients, health, care, providers

Abstract
This paper examines proposed health care reform in the US, with particular emphasis on the Obama-Biden plan. First, the paper describes the difficulties of many American families to cover medical expenses. Statistics are given on the numbers of uninsured in the US as opposed to the profits of pharmaceutical companies. Next, the paper cites numerous scholars and their works on the health care system in America. Finally, the paper lists the seven suggestions made in the Obama-Biden plan for health care reform. The paper concludes with a look at how other industrialized nations manage their health care systems, comparing them the US system.

From the Paper
"The proposed health care reform package will: (1) Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums; (2) Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees; (3) Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees; (4) Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors; (5) Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees' health care; (6) Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage..."

Tags:Obama-Biden Plan, medical insurance, nationalized health care

Abstract
This paper first explains the details of Obama's new health care plan and then examines the question of whether or not the new plan can simply be considered a new tax on the American people. The paper then traces the history of health care reform back to President Teddy Roosevelt and explores the ideology behind the Democrats' position on health care. This paper examines the concerns and potential negative consequences behind Obama's health care reform and analyzes it from both the Republican and Democratic parties' point of view.

From the Paper
"The topic of health care reform and its impact on society is a growing issue and should be address correctly. How will this affect company insurance policies offered to employees? The health care reform plan would gradually decline coverage for current insurance holders though companies because the mandated amount would be lowered. This would mean keeping your old policies would mean pocketing a few extra dollars from your own bank account to make up for the excess difference lost. Democrats explain that the persistent health care reform policy is to help the people, but republicans view this as a way to tax the wealthy and give to the poor. This health care reform is definitely a tax because it aims to benefit the lower/middle working class at the expensive of the wealthy 1% of Americans."

Tags:obama taxes, health insurance, medicare

Abstract
This paper aims at analyzing how health care reform happened in American politics together with the political processes that led to it. The paper analyzes the conditions in which the reform was proposed and then focuses at length on the congressional process and the reasons why the reform took such a limited form compared with Obama's proposal. In conclusion it looks at the current political and legal attacks that are challenging the law to see if they can really endanger its existence.

Outline:
General Context: Conditions in 2010
Democrats in Office and in Congress
Economic Context
Group Interests and Lobbying
Why was the Reform so Limited? Is it the Reflect of a Failed Leadership or of a Failed Political System?

From the Paper
"The Patient Protection and Affordable Act represents a decisive shift from the past politics and policy. The most obvious answer for the origin of that departure is the election of a Democratic President in 2008, but the Democratic capture of Congress in 2006 and the strengthening of that majority in 2008 also played a role by preparing the ground. Moreover, the reform was made possible because intraparty agreement already existed at this moment: the three Democratic candidates in the race for Presidency - Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton- had basically the same reform plan. This probably facilitated a congressionally centered process, even if it did not prevent Obama from facing many difficulties in his attempt to reach a common agreement in Congress. "

Tags:Supreme, Court, Democrats, Conress

Abstract
The writer of this paper examines, compares and contrasts the two presidents' health care reform efforts and their successes and failures. It discusses the many social and political factors involved with each of the presidents' attempts at health care reform.

From the Paper
"The party line politics have always been influential in the development of policy in the United States, and the issue of health care reform was no exception. While the federal administrations of Harry Truman and Bill Clinton grappled with the debate over the nation's healthcare system the state administrations lined up on either side of the debate.
Truman was well known during his reign as president to push for health care reform. Truman wanted the nation to adopt a one size fits all type of health care policy that would allow all Americans to receive healthcare regardless of societal, or socioeconomic status. His idea was not only shot down but he was accused of designing an communist based plot to begin the change of American from a Democratic body to one of dictatorship. The scare tactic worked and the idea of Universal Health care was quickly extinguished(Kazi, 1994). "

Tags:democratic, welfare

Abstract
The writer of the paper suggests three changes to the American health care system, namely, making a government sponsored healthcare program, like Medicaid, available to all Americans, instituting massive tort reform, and finally, requiring any person opting out of either private insurance or government-subsidized insurance to pay in full for medical services. The writer believes that the combination of these three changes will allow every person affordable access to quality medical care without requiring people to subsidize health care for those who opt out of insurance coverage.

From the Paper
"The United States health care system is in a shambles. While the wealthy have access to the best health care in the world and the poor are covered by government insurance programs, but many in the middle class are forced to choice between expensive health care coverage and other of life's essentials. Therefore, my respectful recommendation, Mr. President is that you reform our current health care system. Obviously, there is no single, simple solution to the state of health care in America. However, by incorporating several changes, it should be possible to make basic health care affordable for all Americans without an incredible increase in taxes and without sacrificing high American medical standards. The first change would be to make a government sponsored healthcare program, like Medicaid, available to all Americans. The second change would be to institute massive tort reform. The third change would be to require that any person opting out of either private insurance or government-subsidized insurance pay in full for medical services as they are received. The combination of these three changes would allow every person affordable access to quality medical care without requiring people to subsidize health care for those who opt out of insurance coverage."

Tags:malpractice, premiums, torts, coverage, Medicaid

Abstract
This complete 5-chapter dissertation examines health care delivery practices in three tertiary urban health care facilities to identify those components that were deemed important from a patient satisfaction perspective. A series of original graphs reflecting the results of a patient satisfaction survey are also included, as well as an original survey at the appendix.

From the Paper
"Over the last 50 years, the healthcare system in the United States and abroad has undergone a series of rapid and significant changes. Some of these changes have been the result of innovative developments in medical science and technology that have benefited patients and have prolonged and saved the lives of millions. Some of these changes, however, have only served to limit patient access to prescribed treatment and diminished the quality of care. Research has shown time and again that a patient's perception of the quality of medical care being received is directly correlated to the manner in which that patient responds to medical care, with higher perceptions of quality providing improved outcomes over less quality care - even if these perceptions are not solidly based on fact. These patient-centered outcomes have assumed greater importance as the primary means of measuring the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. The patient satisfaction survey used in this research project was based in part from the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire developed by Linder-Pelz et al. for this purpose. Generally speaking, the measures of a clinic visit that were deemed important to a patient used in this instrument are comprised of: 1) doctor conduct; 2) convenience; 3) appointment getting; and, 4) the visit in general. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided to assist healthcare managers and clinicians in developing appropriate and effective patient satisfaction programs in any healthcare setting."

Tags:jcaho, patient, satisfaction

Abstract
This paper explains that, during the Clinton administration, health care reform focused on increasing the demographic that is eligible for public health insurance and the range of services that this insurance covers. Because nurses should understand the importance of these reforms, the author reviews specifically their potential benefits for patients and the health care profession itself. The paper concludes that nurses should support health care reform because the evidence indicates that a single payer system is more cost-effective, while delivering at least an equivalent level of care, and solves the serious ethical dilemmas of the current American system.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Health Care Reform
Why Nurses Support Health Care Reform
Conclusions

From the Paper
"At present health insurance in the United States covers a patchwork of services and provides no consistent continuity of care. A recent article in The Washington Post highlights the senselessness of the current situation. Low-income women without health insurance are presently provided with free testing for breast and cervical cancer. However, treatment of these diseases, if they are detected, is not covered by the current public insurance program. In other words, the present program provides free diagnosis but no continuity of care, as treatment is not funded. This is an absurd situation."

Tags:insurance, medication, children, patchwork, canada

Abstract
This short paper discusses Clinton's 1993 "State of the Union Address" and promise that during his presidency all Americans would find themselves covered by some form of medical insurance. Seven years later, in the twilight of his presidency he continues to promise health care reform. This paper also looks at why nurses support health care reform. The focus of the paper will be on the benefits of health care reform.

From the Paper
"The cost of health care services in the United States is a matter of pervasive national concern, as the cost of health care services, more than any other single factor, limits access to such services. The interrelationship between costs and access is particularly in the rural areas of the country. This research explores alternative approaches to health care reform in the United States. Health care costs are integral to all approaches to reform. Four types of generic reform proposals are considered in this research--insurance innovation, delivery system reorganization, mandating minimum benefits, and universal coverage. This research argues in favor of universal coverage, as described in "Nursing's Agenda for Health Care Reform" (American Nurses Association, 1991, p. 1). The four types of generic reform proposals are discussed in the contexts of..."