Understanding US Health Reform (if you don't live in the US)

It's a little bit off-topic but a lot has been made of the US health reforms that were passed in the US House of Representatives yesterday. Though it was an auspicious event it can sometimes be difficult to appreciate the significance of these reforms, particularly if, like me, you're fortunate enough to live in a country with a relatively good universal health system.

Dr Lesley Russell was interviewed on ABC's Life Matters today. She explained the reforms and their significance in terms that are readily comprehensible to people outside the US. She's also recently written on the reforms for Croakey.

You can access the interview [MP3] here. It's worth a listen.

Edit: Dr Russell has posted another piece on Croakey about the reforms.