Law Commons^™

Balancing Regional Government Health Mandateswith Federal Economic Imperatives: Perspectives Fromnova Scotia And Illinois, John Blum

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article focuses on current health policy changes in Canada and the United States at the federal and regionallevels. The Canadian discussion centres on the integrity of the Canada Health Act in the era of the Canada Health and Social Transfer, and the strategies that provincial governments have pursued to cope with persistent funding constraints. On the American side, the article examines the role of private sector managed care plans in filling a health policy void resulting from the demise of the Clinton Health Security Act. Two specific regional government health reform initiatives in Nova Scotia and Illinois are discussed …

Managed Competition Reform In The Netherlandsand Its Lessons For Canada, Frederik T. Schut, Herbert Egm Hermans

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article provides an economic and legal perspective on the managed competition reforms within the Netherlands. After an examination of the rationale and the main features of the reforms, a number of problems and dilemmas that were encountered during the implementation process will be highlighted. The authors conclude that although the logic of the managed competition model is appealing, its implementation is quite complicated and requires a strong government with a continued commitment to set and enforce the rules of competition. If these preconditions are not met, the prospects of a successful introduction of managed competition are bleak. Despite its …

In Search Of Universality, Equity, Comprehensivenessand Competition: Health Care Reform And Managedcompetition In Israel, Carmel Shalev, David Chinitz

Dalhousie Law Journal

Israel's ongoing health reform provides lessons regarding attempts to combine universal coverage under national health insurance with a version of managed competition. Based on principles of 'justice, equality and mutual aid," Israel's National Health Insurance Law, 1994 guarantees access to a broad basket of basic services to be provided by four competing sick funds, and the availability of resources adequate to finance the basket. The new rights of citizens to universal coverage and to move freely among sick funds constituted a major policy breakthrough. However, successive amendments to the Law reflect continuing controversy over the amount of resources required to …

"Cinderella" Services In The Nhs Internal Market:Does Contracting Make A Difference?, David Hughes, Siobhan Mcclelland, Lesley Griffiths

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper examines the impact of the NHS internal market reforms on an aspect of equity in the British system that features little in recent policy commentary: the allocation of resources between acute services for the entire population and nonacute services for the elderly, the mentally ill, and the disabled (the so-called "Cinderella" services). The authors' research on health planning and contracting in the NHS in Wales suggests that patterns of services have remained largely unchanged, and that pressures in the reformed system, such as the Patient's Charter initiative, prevent any major reallocation of resources away from the acute sector. …

Accountability Of Health Service Providers:Comparing Internal Markets And Managedcompetition Reform Models, Colleen M. Flood

Dalhousie Law Journal

A numberof countries, including the U.K., NewZealand, the Netherlands, and the U.S., have attempted to reform their health care systems using "internal market" or "managed competition" reform models. These models signal a departure from reliance on passive indemnity payers or insurers and require proactive purchasers to intervene actively and manage allocation decisions made by physicians. The author explores how these models will ensure the accountability of these new decision-makers to the citizens and patients they ultimately represent. Neither model is found to address accountability issues sufficiently. However, the managed competition model offers the promise of tailoring market (exit), political (voice) …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Reforms In Europeanhealth Care Systems, Thomas Rathwell

Dalhousie Law Journal

Most countries in Europe are at various stages in the process of reforming their health care systems. Instead of different and more diverse systems emerging, the health reform process has resulted in a convergence on "managed competition" as the only acceptable means for delivering health care. After briefly describing the historical context, this paper examines the nature and scope of the reform process in Europe. The major features of the reforms are cost-containment and a reduction in the role of the state. There have been few systematic attempts to measure the extent to which expectations are being realized. The paper …

Lessons From Away:An Interdisciplinary Collectionof Studies Exploring Whatcanada May Learn From Othercountries' Experiences Withhealth Care Reforms, Colleen M. Flood

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Canadian health care system is considered a shining example of what it is to be Canadian: to aspire to social justice goals and to achieve those goals at a reasonable cost.' Canadians take great pride in that, by any measure, their health care system is superior to the piece-meal, expensive, and unjust U.S. health care system.

The Impact Of The Purchaser Provider Funding Model Inthe U.K. On The Independence Of Persons With Disabilities:Implications For Canada, Sandra G. Leggat, Gaétan S. Tardif

Dalhousie Law Journal

Through large-scale system restructuring, a number of jurisdictions around the world have adopted a purchaserprovider approach to the funding and delivery of health care services. In this model, a decision-making body, such as a regional board, is provided with a budget to purchase health care services on behalf of, and in response to the identified needs of a defined population. This paper reviews the purchaser provider funding model of the United Kingdom and comments on the impact of this system on the health needs of individuals with disabilities. Generally, the purchaser provider split in the U.K. appears to have resulted …

An Opportunity Lost: The United Kingdom's Failed Reform Of Defamation Law, Douglas W. Vick, Linda Macpherson

Federal Communications Law Journal

The Defamation Act 1996 is the first major piece of libel legislation in Britain since the Defamation Act 1952. The British Parliament passed the Act in response to the ease with which libel plaintiffs can establish liability and in response to huge damage awards. In passing the Act, Parliament attempted to shift the balance of defamation law away from protecting the reputational interest of plaintiffs and toward protecting free discussion and open criticism. However, the Act merely fine-tunes current law. The Act reduces the limitations period for defamation suits, introduces procedural reforms to simplify and reduce libel suits and permits …

Mass Tort Litigation: Congress's Silent, But Deadly, Reform Effort, Mary J. Davis

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

This article explores the ways in which The Common Sense Product Liability and Legal

Reform Act (“Act”) treats mass tort litigation issues. The Act does so both directly and indirectly. The direct methods of reform are mostly industry-specific and, thus, almost inconsequential in contrast to the indirect treatment. The indirect, almost clandestine, methods of reform are the most insidious and provide the most cause for concern as Congress once again attempts to "reform" products liability by reintroducing the Act in 1997. Given the President's early indication that a reform measure could meet with his approval, but that this one in …

Fcc Reform: Governing Requires A New Standard, William H. Read, Ronald Alan Weiner

Federal Communications Law Journal

Perhaps one of the most crucial questions legislators need to address after passing the 1996 Act is the reform of the Federal Communications Commission. Some suggest that the Commission should be abolished altogether, while others recommend merely curtailing some of the Commission's responsibilities. However, true reform of the FCC recognizes that the Commission still has a vital role to play in the shaping of the telecommunications industry. Instead of dismantling the FCC altogether, Congress should redefine the public interest standard under which the FCC operates. The 1934 Communications Act charged the Federal Communications Commission with protecting "the public interest." While …

American Education Reform: What Is Needed Is “National” Not Federal, James W. Guthrie

Saint Louis University Public Law Review

No abstract provided.

Home Rule School Districts: An Opportunity For Meaningful Reform Or Simple Window Dressing?, Charles W. Goldner Jr.

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Prosecutorial Discretion And The Death Penalty: Creating A Committee To Decide Whether To Seek The Death Penalty, John A. Horowitz

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

Conclusion, Monroe E. Price

Articles

No abstract provided.