This book focuses on the problems in America's health care system that have developed over the past 30 years and that will be with us for the next 30 years. It goes beyond mind-numbing quantitative data to probe the underlying causes of the nation's difficulties. Three broad questions are addressed: Why are health care costs in the United States higher than elsewhere? What needs to be done to bring down costs without lowering quality? Is America doing enough about research, prevention, and public information?