Disability and health care reform: Principles, practices, and politics

In the current political environment of health care, rehabilitation professionals must acquaint themselves with the language and strategies of the health care debate. Consequently, the purposes of this article are as follows: (1) to define managed care and examine its components; (2) to discuss the inherent contradictions between rehabilitation philosophy and health care reform; (3) to explore the components of public health care programs; and (4) to examine the merits of national health care for persons with disabilities. The article will not be inclusive about these issues but is intended to educate and facilitate further discussion.