Proposed Health Care System Reforms

Health care system reform covers a disparate and controversial array of issues, a characteristic apparent in the related literature. The literature on proposed system reforms appears to be strongly driven by the actual public policy environment in Washington. Many articles discussing tax credits and reform proposals constructed using tax credits were published during the time when the Bush Administration and Congress were constructing legislation that led to the 2001 tax rebate. Notably, little has been published on health care system reform after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when national attention became focused on a single issue. There is little hope that this inattention will be remedied soon. We can only speculate as to why this focal change also appeared in the health industry research literature—perhaps there are articles in the publication pipeline that were delayed by editors for coverage of more timely issues, perhaps researchers’ focus has changed, perhaps some other reason or simply coincidence.