Many people mistakenly equate universal health coverage with the delivery of quality health care.
However, he argued, adequate health insurance is just one step in the path toward providing quality care to all Americans. Dr. Eisenberg presented a model analogous to the way in which electrical power travels from a central power station to the population. As electricity flows from the power station, it loses voltage due to resistance at certain points in its path. At these points, transformers are used to increase the voltage, so that consumers receive adequate power by the time it reaches their homes. Dr. Eisenberg also responded to questions from the audience about universal coverage, assessing quality of care, and the AHRQ's research agenda.