Health and Mental Health Care Policy A Biopsychosocial Perspective

Overview: This text fills a void in social work literature by offering a comprehensive, in-depth overview of health and mental health care policy. The second edition ofHealth and Mental Health Care Policyprovides a comprehensive overview of health and mental health care policy in the U.S. and presents a biopsychosocial perspective for examining health care, mental health and health care policy. It examines the impact of poverty, inequality, and inadequate access to health care on disadvantaged and at-risk populations and considers implications for policy and practice. In the past four years, the problem of access to health insurance has actually worsened, policymakers have done little to address gaps in coverage and escalating health care costs, and low-income individuals and families, people of color, children, women, and older adults continue to experience significant disparities in health. New to this edition: Includes new information abouthealth care reform efforts during the Bush yearsand concerns aboutbioterrorismin the wake of 9/11 and the spread ofinfectious disease. Examines U.S.health care costsin international perspective and thequality ofhealth carein the U.S. Provides new information on research and public health efforts to understand and reduce disparities in health outcomes ininfant mortality, cardiovascular disease,HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and infectious disease. Each of the sections on African Americans, Latina/os, First Nations, Asian Americans, women,children, and older adultshas been thoroughly updated. What reviewers are saying: "The primary strengths of this book include: it's quite well-written and very readab≤ it provides a concise overview of health care in this country, as well as comparative international models; it provides important content on health disparities, as well as the implications for social work practice; it provides an overview of the biopsychosocial approach to health care." --Mark Holter, University of Michigan "I think the major strength of this book is that it gives an outstanding, comprehensive perspective on the historical antecedents of health care and health care policy in the United States as it relates to the profession of social work. An additional strength is the inclusion of chapters devoted to disparities in health and access to health care. Finally, the text has an exceptional conclusion that allows students to to think critically about issues of health care for the future." --Makeba Thomas, Bowie State University Allyn & Bacon'sThemes of the Times for Health Care and Mental Healthmakes a great companion to this text (at no extra charge when valuepacked with this book). It includes 43 recent articles from theNew York Timesand allowsfor lively discussion of issues and controversies in the field of Health Care and Mental Health.