HCA 473 - Health Policy and Economics

Credits: 3

This course examines the fragmented structure of the U.S. health care system and its economic implications. We will study how people make decisions regarding their health insurance and health care, and the relationship between these decisions and the structure of the insurance and health care delivery markets. We will also examine the theoretical reasons for government intervention in these markets and the effects of these policies on health insurance and health care delivery. The broad objectives of the class are to understand and appreciate the difficulties of making health insurance and health care decisions in the U.S. health care system, and how these decisions are impacted by insurance and health care provider market structure as well as government policy.