Here is a chapter from Health Care Investing, which couples strategies for making money on the future growth of the health-care industry with insightful coverage of the people and events that have shaped it. You will find valuable information about the issues health care professionals face today; examinations of patterns, policies, and future predictions in the market; and practical approaches to investing in pharma, biotech, and managed care.

Is your portfolio in peak health? Ranking among the world's largest markets, the $2.5 trillion health care industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. According to Miller Tabak + Co.'s health care strategist Les Funtleyder, major structural renovations to the system are imminent. “Health care is entering an era of reform,” Funtleyder writes, “and with reform comes change and the opportunity for investment gain.” Health-Care Investing provides a thorough explanation of how the industry's mammoth size and complexity can be worked to your advantage and why health care is more resistant to changes in economic cycles than other markets. Funtleyder gives you a comprehensive overview of the industry, from both macro and micro points of view, so you can make informed decisions regarding your investments. You'll find critical information concerning The natural inelasticity of health care and how to profit from it How to take advantage of the market's complexities and inefficiencies Issues and policy changes you need to know The social responsibility aspect of investing in health care Why this market is essential for diversified portfolios In Health-Care Investing, Funtleyder provides the tools you need to dig up the richest opportunities possible and build them into your investment strategy. You'll get a detailed look at traditional market patterns and the events that have shaped--and will continue to shape--the industry. Then you'll find specific strategies you can use to maximize your profits, whether you invest in pharma, biotech, managed services, or a combination of them. This informative and practical guide also includes a list of questions you can use as an investment “template,” which will help guide your decision-making process. With Health Care Investing, you'll be armed with the know-how to make the right decisions today in order to fully capitalize on events of the future.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

Investor-State disputes are increasing and damage awards are often significant. It is thus no surprise that the investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) system has come under scrutiny. Perceptions have arisen that ISDS is inconsistent, lacks transparency, and is simply unfair. This book delves into the ongoing worldwide debate and discussions regarding the ISDS system. Drawing contributors from around the world, the authors provide insights on critical topics and address the key question facing the ISDS system and the international community it serves: Should the present ISDS system be reformed, replaced, or simply remain as is? The contributors represent points of view ranging from academia to practice to governmental entities, addressing such topics as: the possible consequences of wholesale replacement or elimination of the current ISDS system; mediation as an alternative to resolve ISDS disputes; the creation of a multinational investment court or appellate review mechanism; lack of an early dismissal mechanism to eliminate meritless claims; issues regarding arbitrators, including their appointment and ethical obligations; how investors may retain their right to pursue claims for violations of investment protection following termination of an agreement; a State’s right to assert a counterclaim against an investor-claimant; the role of ISDS in promoting and protecting renewable energy production; the liability of State-controlled entities; the effects and implications of third-party funding; the duty to mitigate damages in the light of excessive damages awards; and improvements and issues relating to post-award enforcement, duration, and cost of ISDS. This book considers the ongoing deliberations and reform measures proposed by UNCITRAL’s Working Group III and provides insights into how several geographic regions and economic cooperation areas have sought to address the question of reform of the ISDS system, including the European Union, the Middle East, and the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. With its much-needed and deeply informed balancing of investor and State rights and duties, this book will be welcomed by all who practise in the ISDS field, including arbitrators, State governments and non-governmental organizations, regional economic organizations, and international investors.

"The public health care state has developed as completely decentralized, in collaboration with voluntary organizations, and under the banner of "non-political" scientific agencies. The early history of this system explains how and why public health leaders were able to hide its growth in later periods. Understanding this foundational history is important for three reasons. First, the state-voluntary collaboration shaped the U.S. health care system, leaving it fragmented and unequal. Second, leaders in the public health coalition characterized the state's close collaboration with the voluntary sector as "private provision," abetting the beginning of the American Myth and setting the stage for grow-and-hide. And third, this formative history provides insight as to why the mixture of public and private "has been so ubiquitous in American history as to be almost invisible.""--

The healthcare industry has been the center of attention recently as it continues to have a major impact on private and public organizations, government institutions, and consumers. An increasing number of requests for healthcare has led to the implementation of new policies and reform proposals that are challenging as they can have a simultaneous impact on different categories of users. As many health, individual, and organizational activities continue to grow and are conducted in the general environment, new vulnerabilities have emerged that have led to the need to study the system from a different angle. The nature, source, and complexity of healthcare is not always clear, and many times health issues are underestimated. The Handbook of Research on Healthcare Standards, Policies, and Reform examines the complex issues, various problems, and innovative solutions that are linked to healthcare standards, policies, and reform. This comprehensive reference work provides important knowledge that impacts healthcare improvement from the perspective of multiple disciplines, adding innovation value to solving health issues. Covering topics such as health protection, psychological health, and healthcare technology, it is an essential resource for academicians, healthcare practitioners, researchers, healthcare scientists, professional bodies, professors and students of higher education, and policymakers.