Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-246) and index.

US health care is the best in the world -- In many ways, US health care is cheaper than other countries' -- The United States wastes one in every ten medical-care dollars -- Most medical-care dollars are spent in the last six months of life -- The United States consistently provides high-quality medical care -- Consumers make the best decisions about their medical care -- Preventive care saves money -- The United States will not ration medical care -- The United States faces a dangerous shortage of doctors -- The current malpractice system protects patients -- In the United States there is a safety net of government health programs for the poor -- People who work can afford health insurance -- The uninsured get adequate care in the emergency department -- The market can fix health care -- Doctors and hospitals should be paid separately for each service they perform -- The United States will never be able to reduce the cost of medical care -- When you come right down to it, Americans are like everyone else -- Previous attempts at health-care reform have taught us very little -- Americans are so divided we cant even agree on goals for our health care -- There is no health-care system that will work for America.