Informing American Health Care Policy: The Dynamics of Medical Expenditure and Insurance Surveys, 1977-1996

"... Informing American Health Care Policy is a useful, evenentertaining book for anyone who uses health data or who wants tounderstand the history and evolution of expAnditure surveys."(Health Affairs May/June 2000)

"In this important book, the lead researchers associated with NMESdescribe the development of this rich data source and, in a seriesof well-crafted papers, illustrate the use of these data ininforming major areas of health policy. It is a must-read foranyone interested in American health policy-especially for youngerprofessionals entering this growing field." (Uwe E. Reinhardt,James Madison Professor of Political Economy, PrincetonUniversity)

"National health expenditure surveys have provided policymakerswith the information they need to make informed decisions. Thisvolume tells us about the evolution and contributions of thefederal government's most ambitious health care survey. I recommAndit for those interested in improving the quality of data availableto those who formulate policy." (John K. Iglehart, founding editor,Health Affairs)

"I enjoyed reading this book. Thanks to the major investment inhealth expAnditure and insurance surveys and the increasinglysophisticated analytic capacity described in this volume, policyofficials now have a much more precise and up-to-date understandingof the implications of policy choices." (Karen Davis, president,The Commonwealth Fund; developed President Carter's 1977 nationalhealth reform proposal)

"Thoughtful and informed reflections on the lessons learned byNMES. Provides sound guidance and procedures required to addressthe Anduring policy questions of Who's covered? Who pays?, and Howmuch? in the emerging U.S. health care environment of the future."(Lu Ann Aday, professor of behavioral sciences and management andpolicy sciences, the University of Texas School of Public Health;and author, Designing and Conducting Health Surveys, FourthEdition)