Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
The central idea for this book is that we lack consensus on principles for allocating resources and in the absence of such a consensus we must rely on a fair decision-making process for setting limits on health care. The authors characterize key elements of this process in a variety of health care contexts where such decisions are made- decisions about insurance coverage for new technologies, pharmacy benefit management, the design of physician incentives, contracting for mental health care by public agencies, etc.- and they connect the problem in the U.S. with the same problem in other countries. They provide a cogent analysis of the current situation, lucidly review the usual candidate solutions, and describe their own approach, which represents a clear advance in thinking. Their intended audience is international since the problem of limits cuts across types of health care systems whether or not they have universal coverage.
Synopsis
The central idea for this book is that we lack consensus on principles for allocating resources and in the absence of such a consensus we must rely on a fair decision-making process for setting limits on health care. The authors characterize key elements of this process in a variety of health care contexts where such decisions are made- decisions about insurance coverage for new technologies, pharmacy benefit management, the design of physician incentives, contracting for mental health care by public agencies, etc.- and they connect the problem in the U.S. with the same problem in other countries. They provide a cogent analysis of the current situation, lucidly review the usual candidate solutions, and describe their own approach, which represents a clear advance in thinking. Their intended audience is international since the problem of limits cuts across types of health care systems whether or not they have universal coverage.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Cynthiane J. Morgenweck, MD, MA(Medical College of Wisconsin Health Policy Institute)
Description:This book presents criteria for developing fair limits on health care resources. The authors then examine some recent decisions to determine if some or all of their criteria were used or could have been used during the decision-making process.
Purpose:The authors of the book have proposed criteria for the process of fairly limiting health care resources. The authors are moving beyond the NEED for limits to the development of sound criteria for the limits. The criteria suggested are discussed in terms of real cases where decisions were made. This discussion keeps the reader engaged and helps the understanding of the criteria.
Audience:The authors suggest that their audience is just about anyone who participates in health care decision making, including patients. Although a well-educated patient would understand the authors' discussion, the book appears to be aimed at health care providers. Allocation of resources is an issue that both authors understand and have spent much time considering. Daniels is a philosopher who has spent much of his career thinking and writing about the issues, while Sabin is a physician who has had to make some of the hard choices about who will and will not receive care, as well as what kind of care.
Features:Daniels and Sabin start this book with answers to those critics who do not believe there is a need to develop limits on health care. They then explain four elements that should be used in the process of setting fair limits on the use of health care resources. The remainder of the book is spent in analyzing contemporary cases of health care limitations with an eye toward the usefulness of the criteria they have suggested. By reviewing actual instances of resource allocation, the authors are able to develop a rich explanation of their criteria and show how they would be helpful in the difficult work of setting limits.
Assessment:The discussion of specific criteria for setting limits fairly will certainly spark discussion. The authors do provide counterpoints to those who do not believe that there is a need to limit health care; however, establishing the criteria for the process of setting limits is the book's main thrust. The authors suggest that fair-minded and reasonable members of society cannot help but agree with what they are describing, but that is preaching to the choir. The authors have not addressed how to appeal to those members who are not fair-minded and reasonable, which is likely to be many of us particularly when it is a family member who is ill and requires scarce medical resources.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Cynthiane J. Morgenweck, MD, MA(Medical College of Wisconsin Health Policy Institute)Description: This book presents criteria for developing fair limits on health care resources. The authors then examine some recent decisions to determine if some or all of their criteria were used or could have been used during the decision-making process.
Purpose: The authors of the book have proposed criteria for the process of fairly limiting health care resources. The authors are moving beyond the NEED for limits to the development of sound criteria for the limits. The criteria suggested are discussed in terms of real cases where decisions were made. This discussion keeps the reader engaged and helps the understanding of the criteria.
Audience: The authors suggest that their audience is just about anyone who participates in health care decision making, including patients. Although a well-educated patient would understand the authors' discussion, the book appears to be aimed at health care providers. Allocation of resources is an issue that both authors understand and have spent much time considering. Daniels is a philosopher who has spent much of his career thinking and writing about the issues, while Sabin is a physician who has had to make some of the hard choices about who will and will not receive care, as well as what kind of care.
Features: Daniels and Sabin start this book with answers to those critics who do not believe there is a need to develop limits on health care. They then explain four elements that should be used in the process of setting fair limits on the use of health care resources. The remainder of the book is spent in analyzing contemporary cases of health care limitations with an eye toward the usefulness of the criteria they have suggested. By reviewing actual instances of resource allocation, the authors are able to develop a rich explanation of their criteria and show how they would be helpful in the difficult work of setting limits.
Assessment: The discussion of specific criteria for setting limits fairly will certainly spark discussion. The authors do provide counterpoints to those who do not believe that there is a need to limit health care; however, establishing the criteria for the process of setting limits is the book's main thrust. The authors suggest that fair-minded and reasonable members of society cannot help but agree with what they are describing, but that is preaching to the choir. The authors have not addressed how to appeal to those members who are not fair-minded and reasonable, which is likely to be many of us particularly when it is a family member who is ill and requires scarce medical resources.
3 Stars from Doody