For courses in Health Economics, U.S. Health Policy/Systems, or Public Health, taken by health services students or practitioners, the text makes economic concepts the backbone of its health care coverage.

Folland, Goodman and Stano's book is the bestselling Health Care Economics text that teaches through core economic themes, rather than concepts unique to the health care economy.

This edition contains revised and updated data tables, where applicable. The advent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010 has also led to changes in many chapters , most notably in the organization and focus of Chapter 16.