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)
Prerequisite
- 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% |
| Written Assignments | 20% |
Midterm Exam (Week 4) | 30% |
Final Paper (Week 8) | 30% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore
- Getzen, Thomas E. (2022). Health Economics and Financing. 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons Publishing. ISBN-10: 1-119-81568-1 or ISBN-13: 978-1-119-81568-6
Additional Resources
- PBS Frontline: Teacher Resources - Sick Around the World
- The Instructor will also record screencasts to explain difficult topics and concepts as a means to differentiate instruction.
- Free video lectures of leading economists, news stories, and podcasts will also be available to the course as needed.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,4,7 | Topics: What is Health Care Economics and how is it fundamentally different from other sectors?/Supply and Demand
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2 | 4,5,8,10 | Topics: Cost benefit and economic analysis & Health care finance and insurance
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3 | 3,4,5 | Topics: Insurance contracts & Managed care & physicians
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4 | 2,5,11 | Topics: Medical Educations, organizations and business practices & Hospitals and health systems
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Midterm Exam | |||
5 | 3,4,5,6,8,9 | Topics: Management and regulation of hospital costs & Long-term care
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6 | 1,5-9,11 | Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Capital Financing and Ownership of Health Care Providers
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7 | 1-4, 9 | Topics: Macroeconomics of Medical Care & The Role of Government and Public Goods
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8 | 2,3,4,6,7,12 | Topics: Economic Evaluation of Health Policy: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010/ Value for Money in the Future of Medical Care
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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.