About this Book

Reforming the Health Care System was held March 18, 2005 at Ball State University as part of a larger conference, Health by Design. Reforming the Health Care System featured a debate between Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D. of Emory University and John C. Goodman, Ph.D. of the National Center for Policy Analysis. Their presentations were transcribed and are presented in this booklet.

About the Miller Professorship of Health Economics

Wallace (Wally) T. Miller, Jr. earned a master of arts degree in business in 1963 from Ball State University. Miller was CEO and COO of Miller's Merry Manor Corporation, now known as Miller's Health Systems, which operates 31 nursing homes and three assisted living centers across Indiana. Wally also served as an instructor of economics in the College of Business from 1991 until his death in 1998.

Upon his death, Wally's estate donated funds to establish the Phyllis A. Miller Professorship in health economics. Phyllis and Wally Miller were married from June 1961 until her death in February 1987. Phyllis was raised on a farm in Pierceton, Indiana. She became the first female president of the town board in LaGrange (the equivalent of the mayor) and served on the board of Farmers State Bank.

The Phyllis A. Miller Professorship of Health Economics supports periodic conferences and other programs on health economics held at Ball State University.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Getting More Value from Our Health Care Spending
By Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D.

Perverse Incentives and Distorting Choices
By John C. Goodman, Ph.D.

Biography, Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D.

Biography, John C. Goodman, Ph.D.

Advance Praise

"This debate supplies a valuable summary of two different views of health reform: one where the government takes more and more control over our lives, and one where it promises to 'do no (more) harm' by giving patients control over the resources needed to manage their own health care. This book will help the American people understand these two competing visions."
John R. Graham
Director, Health Policy Studies
Pacific Research Institute, San Francisco

"In Reforming the Health Care System, noted health care economist and author Dr. John Goodman points in clear and concise language how government programs are fraught with perverse incentives that distort choices for individuals. He concludes that if we could keep government from causing harm, America would have a pretty good health care system. This book is must reading for everyone."
Sally C. Pipes
President and CEO
Pacific Research Institute