Health Care: Meet the American Dream by Janis Powers is a great read for anyone with an interest in health care.  Since healthcare is one of the most contentious issues in recent years I hope this book finds a large audience.

The United States has a very complicated system which has the highest costs in the world but relatively poor outcomes. Clearly major changes are needed.

I thank Netgalley for the privilege of reading an ARC of this book.

The book clearly explains the current complex system and its problems in the first half.  The author explains the historical developments behind many of the aspects of our existing healthcare system.  Difficult concepts are explained in a readable way.  Problems are clearly identified and explained.  Extensive notes justifying conclusions are provided.

In the second part of the book, the author proposes a new system.  Making minor changes to existing systems will not do the job.  Again, extensive notes are provided.

There are major problems with the current system.    You may agree with some ideas but perhaps not all. But these ideas are clearly important points in any discussion of improving how we do healthcare in this country.

For a book that covers many important ideas, it is surprising brief. The print version is 224 pages. The author has done a wonderful job in explaining complicated, often highly technical, ideas clearly and concisely.

I like the author’s data-driven approach to this problem.  I’d highly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving the American health care system.