Designed for the sociology of medicine and public health, community medicine, and health care delivery courses, this vivid and accessible textbook explores the most important current debates about health care in American society. Budrys introduces novice readers to functionalist and conflict perspectives, offering integrated approaches to explain and analyze the structure of our rapidly changing system of health care delivery. Inequality, power, access, and the changing political and policy environment are given special attention. The book is written in an informal conversational style that will appeal to students and lay readers alike.