The Great Social Experiment

What if the whole US healthcare system could be put into perspective by how we treat one disease?

In 1972, congress guaranteed healthcare coverage to people with kidney failure. It was the first time in American history the government provided healthcare coverage to people regardless of race, socioeconomic status, and age. The passage of Public Law 92-603 inspired other countries to provide universal healthcare to their citizens and has since been a critical life raft for millions of patients in need of dialysis. Yet, instead of becoming an inspiring model for reforming our larger healthcare system, kidney care in the United States today has become a cautionary tale of inequity, cost-overruns, and substandard care.

David Krissman tells the story and lessons of America's only experiment with universal healthcare — the treatment of individuals with one disease. He draws on archival media, government data, and interviews with prominent experts and patients to investigate how a once-promising government program has fallen short. At its core, The Great Social Experiment is more than a story about a disease, but a commentary on what incentivizes human behavior. Learning its lessons not only provides a path for better kidney care, but a powerful framework for improving healthcare in our country as a whole.