by Tom Daschle
First published 2008
America's healthcare crisis affects millions who cannot afford medical care or face crushing debt from medical bills. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle examines why this urgent problem has persisted for decades despite being a top priority for citizens. He identifies the root causes as the system's complexity and the competing interests of doctors, hospitals, insurers, drug companies, researchers, and patient advocates. Rather than offering incremental fixes, Daschle presents a comprehensive solution modeled after the Federal Reserve Board. His proposed health board would operate independently from political pressure while remaining accountable to elected officials and the public. This framework would establish uniform care standards and influence both public and private healthcare providers. Daschle argues that only such a bold, systematic approach can repair America's fundamentally broken healthcare system after decades of failed partial measures.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, health, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, policy-change
Setting: America
Period: Decades
240 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Dunne Books