Crony Capitalism in US Health Care: Anatomy of a Dysfunctional System

The US political system and health care industry are heavily influenced by money, with the health care industry spending the most on political lobbying. This book employs a crony capitalism framework to understand the dysfunction of the US health care system, examining the role of seven key players. It argues that current efforts and initiatives to improve the system are of mere academic interest and do not address the root cause of the problem, namely crony capitalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 122 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The United States political system has become excessively reliant on money, with the US healthcare industry leading the way in political lobbying expenditures among all 13 industrial sectors in the country's economy. This alarming trend has resulted in the capture of government regulatory agencies at both federal and state levels by health industry interest groups, who prioritize the industry's interests over the well-being of citizens.

In response to this pressing issue, this book employs a broad theoretical framework of crony capitalism to delve into the dysfunction of the US healthcare system. This framework, which has not been previously applied in a rigorous manner, aims to shed light on the shortcomings that plague the system. Specifically, the book examines the roles of seven key players within this framework: politicians/interest groups, pharmaceutical companies, private health insurers, hospitals/hospital networks, physicians, medical device manufacturers, and the American public.

Crony capitalism, as portrayed in this book, is a destructive force that permeates the US healthcare system, leading to waste, inefficiencies, and a general malaise. Current efforts and initiatives, such as patient-centered medical homes and precision medicine, are merely academic exercises and akin to taking aspirin to treat cancer. They fail to address the root cause of the problem, namely, crony capitalism.

This book offers prescriptions to fix the U.S. healthcare system based on a comprehensive diagnosis of its dysfunction. It will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students in the fields of health care management, public and non-profit management, health policy, administration, and economics, as well as political science. By examining the roles of these key players and the impact of crony capitalism, this book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the US healthcare system. It serves as a call to action for policymakers and stakeholders to address the root causes of dysfunction and work towards a more equitable and efficient healthcare system for all Americans.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 144 x 223 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367631178