A Prescription for Change
2012
This case study describes the development of the landmark 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), as well as key controversies and challenges encountered during the efforts to pass this controversial legislation. The case explores the ways a leader might tackle major policy reforms with substantial implications on public health, including how and whether to spend his or her political capital to achieve success, and whether to take a comprehensive or incremental approach.
The case is part of a series produced by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Case Program, hosted by the HKS Strengthening Learning and Teaching Excellence (SLATE) initiative, the world’s largest producer and repository of case studies designed for teaching about how government works and how public policy is made. Each case in the series is designed to train public leaders, and introduces actual policy dilemmas along with data to equip students to learn how to apply the rigor of quantitative analysis in the real world.
This case may be purchased for a nominal fee; registered educators may obtain a free review copy. Online supplemental resources include short free documents and videos on how to teach with the case method, as well as downloadable related tip sheets and questions for class discussion.
Source:
Darnell S. A Prescription for Change: The 2010 Overhaul of the American Health Care System. HKS Case No. 1972.0. Harvard Kennedy School Case Program 2012. http://case.hks.harvard.edu/a-prescription-for-change-the-2010-overhaul-of-the-american-health-care-system.