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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsCritical: What We Can Do about the Health-Care Crisisby Tom Daschle and Jeanne M. Lambrew and Scott S. Greenberger
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:A much-needed and hard-hitting plan, from one of the great Democratic minds of our time, to reform Americas broken health-care system. Undoubtedly, the biggest domestic policy issue in the coming years will be Americas health-care system. Millions of Americans go without medical care because they cant afford it, and many others are mired in debt because they cant pay their medical bills. Its hard to think of another public policy problem that has lingered unaddressed for so long. Why have we failed to solve a problem that is such a high priority for so many citizens? Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle believes the problem is rooted in the complexity of the health-care issue and the power of the interest groups—doctors, hospitals, insurers, drug companies, researchers, patient advocates—that have a direct stake in it. Rather than simply pointing out the major flaws and placing blame, Daschle offers key solutions and creates a blueprint for solving the crisis. Daschles solution lies in the Federal Reserve Board, which has overseen the equally complicated financial system with great success. A Fed-like health board would offer a public framework within which a private health-care system can operate more effectively and efficiently—insulated from political pressure yet accountable to elected officials and the American people. Daschle argues that this independent board would create a single standard of care and exert tremendous influence on every other provider and payer, even those in the private sector. After decades of failed incremental measures, the American health-care system remains fundamentally broken and requires a comprehensive fix. With his bold and forward-looking plan, Daschle points us to the solution. Tom Daschle is a former U.S. Senator and Senate majority leader from South Dakota. He is currently a special policy advisor at the law firm Alston & Bird LLP, a visiting professor at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. Jeanne M. Lambrew is an associate professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Dr. Lambrew is also a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Previously, she worked on health policy at the White House as the program associate director for health at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and as the senior health analyst at the National Economic Council. Scott S. Greenberger, a former staff reporter at The Boston Globe, is a writer and consultant at Ricchetti, Inc., in Washington, D.C. Health-care stands to be the biggest domestic policy issue for the United States in the coming years. Millions of Americans go without medical care because they can't afford it, and many others are mired in debt because they can't pay their medical bills. The shortcomings and unjust flaws in America's health-care system have gone unaddressed for too long, argues Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. In Critical, he asks why the country has failed to solve a problem that is such a high priority for so many of its citizens. Daschle believes the problem is rooted in the complexity of the health-care issue and the power of the interest groups—doctors, hospitals, insurers, drug companies, researchers, patient advocates—that have a direct stake in it. Rather than simply pointing out the major flaws and placing blame, Daschle suggests specific policy changes and creates a blueprint that could lead to a long term solution. Daschles solution lies in the Federal Reserve Board, which has successfully overseen the equally complicated financial system. A Fed-like health board would offer a public framework within which a private health-care system can operate more effectively and efficiently—insulated from political pressure yet accountable to elected officials and the American people. Daschle argues that this independent board would define a single standard of care and exert influence on every other provider and payer, even those in the private sector. After decades of failed incremental measures, the American health-care system remains fundamentally broken and requires comprehensive, enduring repairs. With his forward-looking plan, Daschle boldly points to a solution that would connect the interest groups invested in the country's healthcare—including the patients. "When it comes to books about health and medicine, the biggest sellers tend to focus on the latest diet or exercise craze and new ways to restore youth and beauty . . . belly fat seems to be a big theme . . . But the best books . . . were those that illuminated the experience of being ill in America today, from the perspective of both the patient and the doctor, and an easy-to-understand guide to the workings of the human body. Also moving was a view from the inside of a health-care system that, for all its flaws, continues to strive in the interests of patients . . . Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis, by Tom Daschle provides insights into how President-elect Obama's newly named secretary of health and human services plans to approach his job."—Laura Landro, The Wall Street Journal “I may not agree with some of the political statements but Senator Daschle is right on target on the need to start a serious dialogue on health care for Americans. His thoughtful health-care proposals will move the process forward. Senator Daschle and I agree on the need for nonpartisanship in coming to grips with this number one domestic problem.”—Bob Dole, former Senate majority leader “The American health-care system is in crisis, and workable solutions have been blocked for years by deeply entrenched ideological divisions. Senator Daschle brings fresh thinking to this problem, and his Federal Reserve for Health concept holds great promise for bridging this intellectual chasm and, at long last, giving this nation the health care it deserves.”—Senator Barack Obama (Illinois) “This book provides real solutions for Americas broken health care system.”—Senator Harry Reid (Nevada), Senate majority leader “Critical provides answers to one of the most vexing challenges of our time.”—John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and a former White House chief of staff “Senator Daschle adds to his reputation as a clear thinker and leader. Critical shows us not only why we must solve our health care crisis but that—with political will—we can.”—Judy Feder, professor and dean at Georgetown Public Policy Institute "Several recent books have proposed various ways to reform America's ailing health-care system. This easy-to-read, straightforward book by former U.S. senator Daschle ranks as one of the best. With decades of experience on Capitol Hill, Daschle clearly knows the politics of health care—he crafted numerous pieces of health-care legislation and worked with President Clinton to develop a national health-care program. Here, Daschle describes the various problems of the present system, before going on to discuss the many failed attempts by different presidents to reform the system. He proposes the creation of a Federal Health Board . . . which would develop standards of care and evaluate the efficacy and overall benefits of new drugs and medical technologies compared to those in current use. The board would also regulate all health-care organizations and providers receiving federal funds. Daschle believes such a board would make complex medical decisions and resist political pressure from special-interest groups. His proposal appears to be realistic and politically feasible."—Ross Mullner, Library Journal "The U.S. is 'the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee necessary health care to all of its citizens,' and as former senator Daschle observes, 'Skeptics say we can't afford to cover everyone; the truth is that we can't afford not to' because U.S. economic competitiveness is being impeded by the large uninsured population and fast-rising health costs. Daschle's book delineates the weaknesses of previous attempts at national health coverage, outlines the complex economic factors and medical issues affecting coverage and sets forth plans for change. Daschle proposes creating a Federal Health Board . . . whose structure, functions and enforcement capability would be 'largely insulated from the politics and passion of the moment,' in addition to a merging of employers' plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program) that would cover everyone. 'There is no more important issue facing our country,' Daschle asserts, 'than reform of our health-care system,' and the book's 'health-care horror stories' bring this immediacy home."—Publishers Weekly Review:"The U.S. is 'the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee necessary health care to all of its citizens,' and as former senator Daschle observes, 'Skeptics say we can't afford to cover everyone; the truth is that we can't afford not to' because U.S. economic competitiveness is being impeded by the large uninsured population and fast-rising health costs. Daschle's book delineates the weaknesses of previous attempts at national health coverage, outlines the complex economic factors and medical issues affecting coverage and sets forth plans for change. Daschle proposes creating a Federal Health Board, similar to the Federal Reserve System, whose structure, functions and enforcement capability would be 'largely insulated from the politics and passion of the moment,' in addition to a merging of employers' plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program) that would cover everyone. 'There is no more important issue facing our country,' Daschle asserts, 'than reform of our health-care system,' and the book's 'health-care horror stories' bring this immediacy home." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Book News Annotation:Daschle (a former Democratic Senator from South Dakota) analyzes the
failure of the United States to enact national health care reform.
Part of the problem, he argues, lies in the complexity of the
political system and the powers of interest groups. He therefore
proposes that Congress delegate power to a Federal Health Board,
modeled loosely on the Federal Reserve System, which will have the
task of setting standards and structure for all federal health
programs and contractors, which will then serve as an influence on
the private sector.
Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Synopsis:A much-needed and hard-hitting plan, from one of the great Democratic minds of our time, to reform Americas broken health-care system. Undoubtedly, the biggest domestic policy issue in the coming years will be Americas health-care system. Millions of Americans go without medical care because they cant afford it, and many others are mired in debt because they cant pay their medical bills. Its hard to think of another public policy problem that has lingered unaddressed for so long. Why have we failed to solve a problem that is such a high priority for so many citizens? Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle believes the problem is rooted in the complexity of the health-care issue and the power of the interest groups—doctors, hospitals, insurers, drug companies, researchers, patient advocates—that have a direct stake in it. Rather than simply pointing out the major flaws and placing blame, Daschle offers key solutions and creates a blueprint for solving the crisis. Daschles solution lies in the Federal Reserve Board, which has overseen the equally complicated financial system with great success. A Fed-like health board would offer a public framework within which a private health-care system can operate more effectively and efficiently—insulated from political pressure yet accountable to elected officials and the American people. Daschle argues that this independent board would create a single standard of care and exert tremendous influence on every other provider and payer, even those in the private sector. After decades of failed incremental measures, the American health-care system remains fundamentally broken and requires a comprehensive fix. With his bold and forward-looking plan, Daschle points us to the solution. About the AuthorTom Daschle is a former U.S. Senator and Senate majority leader from South Dakota. He is currently a special policy advisor at the law firm Alston & Bird LLP, a visiting professor at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. Jeanne M. Lambrew is an associate professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Dr. Lambrew is also a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Previously, she worked on health policy at the White House as the program associate director for health at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and as the senior health analyst at the National Economic Council. Scott S. Greenberger, a former staff reporter at The Boston Globe, is a writer and consultant at Ricchetti, Inc., in Washington, D.C. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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