Course Description
This course will focus on how microeconomic theory can be used to understand the operation of healthcare markets, and analyze various problems and issues relating to health economics, including international comparisons. The course will review and analyze the Affordable Care Act and its impact on the current and future healthcare economics. Current political issues will also be addressed as they relate to healthcare economics. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course the students will be able to:
- Define healthcare economics and explain how it is different from any other economic good.
- Compare past, present, and anticipated changes in the healthcare environment.
- Describe various payment sources and the populations they serve.
- Explain economic factors that influence healthcare decisions.
- Illustrate how microeconomic theory can be used to understand the operation of healthcare markets as well as to analyze various problems and issues related to healthcare economics.
- Evaluate political issues as they relate to healthcare economics.
- Compare the healthcare systems at least four other countries with that of the United States.
- Identify factors that influence the production of medical services.
- Relate structural, process and outcome quality to lifestyle and life expectancy.
- Evaluate the cost-benefit of human life, considering ethics vs. economics.
- Compare and contrast not-for-profit hospital behavior to for-profit and profit maximizing behavior in terms of services offered.
- Explain the affordable care act and analyze its economic impact on each sector of the healthcare system, including payers, providers, employers, and consumers.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
| Assignments (Weeks 1-3 & 5-7) | 20% |
Midterm Exam (Week 4) | 30% |
Final Paper (Week 8) | 30% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Getzen, Thomas E. (2022). Health Economics and Financing. 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons Publishing.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,4,7 | Topics: The Flow of Funds Through the Health Care System and Economic Evaluation of Health Services
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2 | 4,5,8,10 | Topics: Cost Benefit and Cost Effectiveness Analysis and Health Insurance
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3 | 3,4,5 | Topics: Insurance Contracts and Physicians
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4 | 2,5,11 | Topics: Physician Organization, Business Practice, Hospitals and Midterm Exam
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5 | 3,4,5,6,8,9 | Topics: Hospital Costs and Long Term Care
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6 | 1,5-9,11 | Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Capital Financing and Ownership
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7 | 1-4, 9 | Topics: Macroeconomics & The Role of Government
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8 | 2,3,4,6,7,12 | Topics: Economic Evaluation of Health Policy
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.