Health Economics: An Introduction, 3rd revised ed

Healthcare Financial Management, Jan, 1994 by Shahram Heshmat

This textbook examines the health services industries and health problems of the United States and select developing countries. The author surveys trends in expenditures, costs of medical care services, and demand for health services (the revised edition provides updated statistics). Chapters focus on a variety of subordinate topics, such as hospital cost inflation, the effects of health and population on development, and health insurance provided by public and private sectors. All arguments presented in the text are generously supported by tables, illustrations, and bibliographies.

Though the book is billed as "An Introduction," this is truly not an introductory work. Readers will likely need some expertise in the areas of micro- and macro-economic principles to get through this book. For casual students or healthcare financial managers, the technical level of the content may be too great for meaningful interpretation. However, the book does provide valuable information for the experienced, practicing financial manager.

Reviewed by Shahram Heshmat, PhD, assistant professor, health services administration, Sangamon State University, Springfield, Ill., and a member of HFMA's McMahon-Illini Chapter.