Grow and Hide: The History of America's Health Care State

The US government has always invested in public health protection and prevention, but Americans believe the current system is predominantly private. Colleen M. Grogan's book "Grow & Hide" reveals the history of the American health care state and argues that the public has been intentionally misled about the true role of government. The state's role is larger than ever, but it remains largely hidden due to the illusion of minimal government involvement. This narrative has consequences of scarce accountability and unequal distribution of benefits. The time has come for an honest discussion about the health care system, and Grogan's book is an important contribution to this reimagining.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The American health care system has a complex and often controversial history, with the public often misled about the true role of government in the system. While the US government has historically invested federal, state, and local dollars in public health protection and prevention, Americans typically believe that the current system is predominantly comprised of private actors with little government interference. In her book "Grow & Hide," Colleen M. Grogan details the history of the American health care state and argues that the public has been intentionally misled about the true role of government.

The US created a publicly financed health care system while framing it as the opposite in what Grogan terms the "grow-and-hide regime." Today, the state's role in the health care system is larger than ever, yet it remains largely hidden because stakeholders, namely private actors and their allies in government, have repeatedly and successfully presented the illusion of minimal government involvement. The consequences of this narrative are scarce accountability and a highly unequal distribution of benefits.

In the wake of a pandemic that has killed over one million Americans, with the highest death rates among minorities and lower-income people, the time has come for an honest discussion about the health care system. As Grogan reveals, America has never had a system that resembles a competitive, free-market model. Given how much the government already invests in the health care system, the means by which these funds are distributed and administered are fundamental political questions for the American public, not questions that should be decided by the private sector.

If we want to fix care in America, we need to reimagine the way it is organized, prioritized, funded, and, perhaps most importantly, discussed. "Grow & Hide" is an important book that provides a comprehensive history of the American health care state and challenges the public to think critically about the role of government in the system. It is essential for policymakers, health care professionals, and the general public to understand the history and current state of the health care system in order to work towards creating a more equitable and effective system for all Americans.

Weight: 750g
Dimension: 169 x 243 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780199812233