PH 370 - Health Economics and Public Policy

Units: 3
Economics of health and healthcare. Application of economic theories to public policy in health sector. Cost analysis, healthcare financing, public and private health insurance, and provider reimbursement models. Analysis of medical education, hospital, pharmaceutical, mental health, and long-term care markets.

Prerequisites: PH 110
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground or Hybrid.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Understand law of demand and supply as it applies to various market structures
Understand the determinants of demand and supply and elasticity of demand
Understand the meaning opportunity cost and the choices that need to be made with regard to spending, production and distribution of health care services
Discuss economic inefficiencies in the market for health services
Discuss the role of economics in shaping health legislation and health policy
Describe the use of health production function to allocate resources in health care
Describe use of marginal analysis in the health production function
Explain the model for demand for health care and the importance of time costs
Explain the theory underlying the demand for health insurance
Understand physician behavior and supplier induced demand
Describe health care manpower surplus and shortages