Health Economics: Efficiency, Quality, and Equity

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This is a 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 1 presents a basic overview of cost analysis, production functions, and provider cost behaviour. Part 2 considers economic models of physicians and hospital behaviour, and recent changes in methods for paying physicians. Part 3 focuses on employee cost sharing, HMOs, gatekeepers to contain utilization, and the use of case managers in long-term care. Part 4 looks at equity, social welfare, and the unique problems of urban medical centres. Part 5 focuses on consumer information, quality measurement, and health manpower policies for nonphysician providers. Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis is reviewed in part 6. The last part summarizes major future policy options and suggests a number of mixed strategies, including capitation. In short, "Health economics" aims to provide policy makers, health care providers, and students with the analytical tools needed to effectively balance efficiency and quality.

Reviews

Eastaugh is a significant contributor to the health economics literature and the recipient of the American College of Health Care Executives Edgar Hayhow Award. He provides an excellent summary of applied economic research emphasizing new micro concerns of health quality, cost control, and efficiency in their relationship to equity. New forms of completion (managed care) are well covered. Discussion of finance (including economics of health insurance) is minimal; this topic will be covered in the author's forthcoming companion volume, Health Care Finance. . . . Also, Eastaugh clearly emphasizes supply and providers over demand (theory of consumer demand and determinants of demand). With this emphasis, there is excellent coverage of physician behavior, access to health care, and the uninsured. A nice section on cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness is included. Overall, in its scope, this is the best text on health economics on the market. It is comprehensive yet readable at most levels. . . .-Choice
There are relatively few books that attempt to draw together all the available information into a single volume comprehensible to physicians, hospital managers, and other students of health policy. Health Economics fills that void. . . . 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 public policy.-Academic Medicine
"There are relatively few books that attempt to draw together all the available information into a single volume comprehensible to physicians, hospital managers, and other students of health policy. Health Economics fills that void. . . . 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 public policy."-Academic Medicine
"Eastaugh is a significant contributor to the health economics literature and the recipient of the American College of Health Care Executives Edgar Hayhow Award. He provides an excellent summary of applied economic research emphasizing new micro concerns of health quality, cost control, and efficiency in their relationship to equity. New forms of completion (managed care) are well covered. Discussion of finance (including economics of health insurance) is minimal; this topic will be covered in the author's forthcoming companion volume, Health Care Finance. . . . Also, Eastaugh clearly emphasizes supply and providers over demand (theory of consumer demand and determinants of demand). With this emphasis, there is excellent coverage of physician behavior, access to health care, and the uninsured. A nice section on cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness is included. Overall, in its scope, this is the best text on health economics on the market. It is comprehensive yet readable at most levels. . . ."-Choice

Author Bio

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.