Nearly everyone agrees that the nations health care system needs to be reformed. By mid1994 over a halfdozen major reform plans were under consideration in Congress. But beyond the political challenge of passing a reform package lies an even bigger challenge how to make health reform workCritics of the Clinton plan have charged that its too complex and doomed to administrative failure. Are they right The nations health care finance and delivery systems are already immensely complex and problemridden. Is it possible to achieve meaningful reforms without adopting new administrative strategies and structures that are equally complex What role do the states now play in administering the nations health care system Is it possible to design administrative success into national health reform plans from the startProduced in close consultation with state health care officials from all around the country this important volume offers practical and timely recommendations for how to make health reform work. It addresses the central implementation management and federalism dimensions of reform. Chapters by some of the countrys leading health policy and public management experts explore the administrative challenges of reform as they relate to health alliances cost containment quality of care medical education and training and other key issues. They discuss various working principles for developing an administratively sound health reform policy.The contributors are Lawrence D. Brown and Michael Sparer Columbia University Gerald Garvey Princeton University Donald F. Kettl University of WisconsinMadison James R. Tallon United Hospital Fund James W. Fossett and Frank J. Thompson State University of New York Albany.