PUBPOL 5670 - Health Policy

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Staff.

Addresses major health policy issues and the critical processes that influence them. Focuses primarily on the United States, with some coverage of health policy in other countries. Topics include Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured, public health, the effect of welfare policy on health care, managed care development and regulation, state and federal health care reform, and many others. The course analyzes the politics of health policy in terms of legislative and executive processes; the forces involved including economic, social, ethical, and political factors; and key players in health policy, such as special interest groups, public agencies, and elected officials.

Outcome 1: Have a good understanding of social and behavioral determinants of health in addition to the health care financing, delivery and regulatory systems; this is needed in order to analyze the effects of relevant policies on health; be familiar with some main outlets for dissemination of research that affect the health care sector.

Outcome 2: Have gained tools necessary to critique and economically analyze health policies that affect health care organizations and related entities.

Outcome 3: Develop familiarity with the statistical analysis in journal articles we read.

Outcome 4: Practice the art of providing constructive feedback to your colleagues on their term projects.

Outcome 5: Improve your written and oral communication skills, as well as your presentation skills.

Outcome 6: Work with diverse groups and teams.