Book excerpt: Good management requires a fundamental understanding of economics. In the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, economics can provide a road map for managers looking to effectively navigate strategic, goal-oriented decisions while also improving population health outcomes. Economics for Healthcare Managers provides the practical guide that healthcare managers need to simplify and strengthen the decision-making process for everyday issues. Written for those with little or no background in economics, the book is designed to engage readers in todays policy and management challenges. The author references classic studies while also drawing on current research and emphasizing contemporary analyses. As the purview of healthcare managers has expanded significantly, this edition has been updated to reflect their evolving role. Featuring 17 new case studies, the book incorporates recent changes in health policy and research, including new and revised content on: " Realizing the Triple Aim " Profits, market structure, and market power " Regulations of the Affordable Care Act " Health insurance and the move toward value-based payments " The healthcare financing system and alternative payment mechanisms The book and its companion materials combine multiple cases, class activities, and special features to engage students and facilitate active learning. These resources give students in the classroom the opportunity to tackle the kinds of challenging economic issues they can expect to face during their careers as healthcare managers. Economics for Healthcare Managers introduces cutting-edge thinking about the economics of policy and management and provides future healthcare managers with the strong foundation they'll need in this critical discipline.