Journal of health & social policy
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J Health Soc Policy · Jan 2001
Comparative StudyThe impact of health insurance status on emergency room services.
This study presents evidence from a major hospital that the uninsured received less care than privately insured patients when they came for emergency treatment, even when the insured and uninsured had similar diagnoses. Uninsured emergency patients were also less likely to be admitted to the hospital than insured emergency patients. Among those treated and released, the uninsured have lower discharge costs than privately insured patients. Among those patients admitted to the hospital, however, the costs of treatment were quite similar for insured and uninsured patients alike.
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J Health Soc Policy · Jan 2000
Public attitudes regarding willingness to participate in medical research studies.
The recruitment of adequate numbers of people to participate in medical research studies is an ongoing problem for biomedical researchers. Although the general public has come to expect and demand that the biomedical community develop new, safe and effective approaches to the prevention and treatment of diseases, that same public is not aware of the important role that public participation plays in the development of medical advances. Much is known about willingness to participate in research studies from the perspectives of patients, survivors, and those at-risk for getting a particular disease. ⋯ Such an approach can only succeed if adequate numbers of individuals are willing to participate in these studies. From a practice perspective, the current study suggests that opportunities exist to increase participation by targeting recruitment efforts not only toward the willing but also toward those who are undecided about participation in medical research studies. This would involve tailoring the content of communications to meet the specific characteristics and concerns of each of these two groups of individuals.
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This paper considers the effectiveness of the Oregon Health Plan method for allocating limited health resources. The Plan is narrow in scope and leaves many difficult questions unanswered. ⋯ The determination of social worth of a patient is outlined. This paper supports the notion of allocating medical dollars on the concept of worth.
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While debates over drug policy in America have focused on choices between demand reduction and supply reduction, the Dutch have pioneered the alternative strategy of harm reduction. The Dutch have built their policy around the principles of separation of markets, low threshold treatment, and normalization of treatment. These policies are worthy of examination as a possible model for drug policy reform in America.
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J Health Soc Policy · Jan 1995
Historical ArticleThe development of the Hill-Burton legislation: interests, issues and compromises.
The Hill-Burton Hospital Survey and Construction Act has its roots in the social health and welfare programs of the New Deal. This paper traces its development and the positions of three groups-the hospital industry, the U. ⋯ The analysis involves two lines of thought: the political strategy of incrementalism and the roles of the three interest groups in reaching compromises to quickly pass an "unsponsored" bill. Relevance to the current effort to pass a single payer national health insurance is explored.