Introduction to Frontiers in Health Policy Research, Volume 7

摘要

When the seventh annual Frontiers in Health Policy Research meetingnwas held in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2003, the climate fornhealth care reform had decidedly changed from only a few years earlier.nThe projected federal budget surplus had been replaced by anbudget deficit, with red ink projected to flow for the foreseeable future.nSolutions to rising health expenditures seemed elusive as commercialnhealth insurance premiums continued to rise at double-digit rates fornthe third consecutive year. The only major Medicare reform under seriousnconsideration in Congress was a much-desired expansion of coveragenfor prescription drugs; plans to cope with rising Medicarenexpenditures were, for the time being, a lower priority. Along withnrising health expenditures, the number of uninsured increased. Theneconomic challenges were intense.