UNDERSTANDING THE CHOICES IN HEALTH-CARE REFORM

This commentary is the joint product of a group of concerned scholars, many of them long associated with this journal. It assesses the debat e over health care reform with the goal of minimizing the many myths a nd misunderstandings that exist. We address eight issues most likely t o engender confusion: (1) the question whether cost control and univer sal coverage are contradictory goals, (2) the definition of universal coverage, (3) sources of bureaucracy in a reformed health care system, (4) the meanings of ''competition'' and ''regulation,'' (5) the diffe rence between short- and long-term measures to control costs, (6) subs idization of universal health care, (7) the role of medical care profe ssionals in decision making about the delivery of services, and (8) th e meaning of ''choice'' for patients and caregivers.