PART I—Overview of Policy and Law in the United States

Chapter 1. Introduction: Understanding the Role of and Conceptualizing Health Policy and Law

A. Introduction
B. The Role of Policy and Law in Health Care and Public Health
C. Conceptualizing Health Policy and Law
D. Conclusion

Chapter 2. Policy and the Policymaking Process

A. Introduction
B. Defining Policy
C. Public Policymaking Structure and Process
D. Interest Groups
E. Conclusion

Chapter 3. Law and the Legal System

A. Introduction
B. The Role of Law
C. The Definition and Sources of Law
D. Key Features of the Legal System
E. Conclusion

PART II—Essential Issues in Health Policy and Law

Chapter 4. Understanding Health Insurance

A. Introduction
B. Health Insurance Coverage
C. A Brief History of the Rise of Health Insurance in the U.S.
D. How Health Insurance Operates
E. Managed Care
F. Conclusion

Chapter 5. Health Economics in a Health Policy Context

A. Introduction
B. Health Economics Defined
C. Economic Basics: Demand
D. Economic Basics: Supply
E.  Economic Basics: Markets
F. Conclusion

Chapter 6. Government Health Insurance Programs: Medicaid, SCHIP, and Medicare

A. Introduction
B. Entitlements and Block Grants
C. Medicaid
D. State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
E. Medicare
F. Conclusion

Chapter 7. The Uninsured and Health Reform

A. Introduction
B. Characteristics of the Uninsured
C. The Importance of Health Insurance Coverage to Health Status
D. Ways to Count the Cost of Uninsurance
E. Safety Net Providers
F. Health Reform
G. Unsuccessful Attempts to Pass National Health Insurance Reform
H. State Health Reform
I. Conclusion

Chapter 8. Individual Rights in Health Care and Public Health

A. Introduction
B. Background
C. Individual Rights and Health Care: A Global Perspective
D. Individual Rights and the Health Care System
E. Individual Rights in a Public Health Context
F. Conclusion

Chapter 9. Health Care Quality Policy and Law

A. Introduction
B. Medical Errors as a Public Health Concern
C. Promoting Health Care Quality Through the Standard of Care
D. Tort Liability of Hospitals, Insurers, and Managed Care Organizations
E. Federal Preemption of State Liability Laws Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
F. Conclusion

PART III—Basic Skills in Health Policy Analysis

Chapter 10. The Art of Structuring and Writing a Health Policy Analysis

A. Introduction
B. Policy Analysis Overview
C. Structuring a Policy Analysis
D. Conclusion