Estes et al. (social and behavioral sciences and health and aging, U. of California, San Francisco) provide health professionals and students in health policy, as well as scholars, researchers, and policy makers, with an overview of the health policy and political process as it relates to US healthcare. The book collects 68 recently published and original articles, book excerpts, and issue briefs. They relate to health politics and political action and reform, health status and access to care, delivery systems issues, economics, and global issues. This edition has all new articles (except for fourrevised classics) and a new chapter on corporate influences. It has been revised to include new articles related to the recent healthcare reform, and focuses on population and individual health and health inequalities linked to health policy. Articles address children's health and insurance and problems relating to healthcare delivery for diverse and vulnerable populations. It adds an epilogue on urgent concerns like health reform, the "war on women," and the "war on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid." Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)