It is widely recognized throughout the health care industry that the United States leads the world in health care spending per capita. However, the chilling dose of reality for American health care consumers is that for all of their spending, the World Health Organization ranks the country's health care system 37th in overall performance--right…

This paper discusses factors emerging from the health care reform movement that will shape health care service delivery in general and nursing practice and education in particular. First, cost concerns will increase moves toward managed competition which will, in turn, create changes in service use patterns. These patterns seem overall to tend…

This report, sixth of a series of eight, focuses on the emotional health and well-being of children and youths. It discusses the prevalence of mental health problems among young people, development of mental health systems of care, and mental health benefits as a part of health insurance coverage. The California Center for Health Improvement asked…

This reports that health care providers, including those based in schools, can be instrumental in efforts to enroll eligible children in Medicaid or low-cost health insurance. There are 10 ways in which health care providers can help: (1) inform families about the availability of free and low-cost health insurance for children; (2) enlist all…

In light of recent efforts in the United States to advance some type of universal health care package for all citizens, including preventive services for children, this report examines how other countries with universal health insurance provide preventive care to children, and what, if any, are the implications for reform efforts in the United…

Virtually every employer has it in their power to reduce their employee health care costs by 10-20 percent or more. The solution to the rising health care costs problem is a total health care system. Most cost savings potential will be centered in three areas: control of wasteful and often harmful use of the health care system; provider price…

In 1985, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) reserves had accumulated over $2 billion in reserve surplus, precipitating the program's first refund. Concerned about FEHBP reserve practices, the chairman of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, United States Congress, asked the General Accounting Office (GAO) to…

This report contains data collected from 275 Pennsylvania school districts for the 1977-78 school year. The data reflect policies and practices affecting fringe benefits for professional employees. The report is divided into three major sections. The first section presents comparative data for 30 variables on a statewide, size, and wealth basis.…

Part 3 of a three-part report on fringe benefits in public schools, this study reports fringe benefits received by classroom teachers for school year 1979-80 in the 803 districts that responded to a survey instrument mailed to a sample of 1,808 public school systems. Data on leave provisions, group insurance programs, professional liability…

This survey is designed to provide comparative information for classified personnel in the six counties of western New York State. Data collection was more difficult than in previous years because of the increasing length of the negotiation process. This year 71 (80 percent) of the surveyed districts supplied data. This year's report is different…

In this sequel to the report of a 1966 survey of 1,413 household heads in rural areas of the Ozarks region, socioeconomic conditions are discussed for the 439 household heads who had reported total or partial disabilities. Of the 439 households, 41% were in poverty. Household heads' incomes were small because many heads were unable to hold regular…

The primary objective of national health insurance is to make sure that good medical care is available to everyone at an affordable price. Any plan when first adopted will have a role for both private and government sectors but regardless of the mix, the system should meet certain goals. (Author/BB)

New legislation requiring that continuing health insurance benefits be offered to employees and their families generally apply to all health care benefit plans maintained by school districts. The new regulations are explained. (MLF)

This article provides insight, through the author's personal experience, into the life of the chronically ill child. Problems encountered by these children and their families due to inadequacies in the educational system, medical profession, and insurance companies are discussed. (DF)