Understanding Health Care Reform: Bridging the Gap between Myth and Reality. Arthur M. Feldman. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2012, 198 pages. ISBN: 978-1-4398-7948-1, $39.95 hardcover

Understanding Health Care Reform: Bridging the Gap between Myth and Reality. Arthur M. Feldman. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2012, 198 pages. ISBN: 978-1-4398-7948-1, $39.95 hardcover. At the forefront during an election year, health care remains a central topic of debate across the country. Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) (PPACA) passed in 2010, many Americans have wondered, "How does this legislation affect me?" As with most legislation, the complete text of the Act--which spans 959 pages--is cumbersome and overwhelming to read. In Understanding Health Care Reform: Bridging the Gap between Myth and Reality, Arthur M. Feldman successfully addresses the question to which so many Americans seek an answer: How does the Act affect the individual patient? He also examines the PPACA's effects on physicians, their practices, and the overall health care system. Feldman is clear that the Act's full impact remains undetermined, as rules by regulatory agencies are yet to be written, and some will be based on results from pilot studies and projects. He also notes that individual states will play a part in how the law is enforced and carried out at the state level. Feldman's overall goal in writing this book was to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the legislation and to provide insight for everyday American readers about how they can influence its success or failure. In one way, this book is a call to action; by providing the "information [needed] to make informed decisions," Feldman encourages individuals to "think creatively about how [they] will play a role in creating a better system of health care in America" (pp. xxi-xiii). With much of the health care debate being fueled by political analysts, lobbyists, and the media, Feldman is a refreshing source of information. As a physician, he describes his experience in a variety of roles "[caring] for patients, [teaching] students, and [pursuing] research" (p. xi) within a variety of settings "in thirty different states and fifteen different countries" (p. xii). In addition to his perspective as a physician, he shares his personal experience as a patient battling prostate cancer. And he introduces readers to stories of other physicians, administrators, and patients,, examining the effects of the legislation and providing questions in each situation that will depend on the administration of the law. Feldman writes the book from the perspective that the Act provides a foundation for health care reform that must be built on by "[initiating] changes that will correct its deficiencies and enhance its strengths" (p. 181). The book is divided into 11 chapters, with each of the first 10 exploring a different area that Feldman suggests is critical to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the PPACA. This organization is crucial to the overall purpose of the book, as each chapter provides the framework necessary for outlining Feldman's proposed changes for ongoing reform. He presents a persuasive argument, supplying numerous and relevant references in the notes for each chapter. However, on the basis of the title Understanding Health Care Reform, one might assume that the book will provide a comprehensive summary of the PPACA itself, with a description of each of the 10 titles within the Act. Though Feldman makes multiple references to the Act, the organization and titles of the PPACA are not included, which may leave readers wondering whether they have a complete understanding. Including a more comprehensive summary of the Act and its organization, as well as tying each title to the 10 critical areas and suggestions, would have left readers with greater confidence in their ability to engage in political activism regarding reform. The book is written in plain language and provides explanations for terms that may not be readily understood by a lay readership. Feldman writes in a way that does not assume extensive previous knowledge. …