Provider Payment Systems and Policy

HCM 755.2 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course will address the financial and regulatory structure of health care to help students assess how they can best influence health care to benefit patients, institutions, and society as a whole. We will evaluate multiple dimensions of health care cost and payment, with an emphasis on how payment systems influence provider organization, behavior and performance. The focus of this course is the US health care system, although class members will also examine provider payment across multiple countries. We will examine various stakeholder points of view on health care regulation and finance – and assess how regulation and finance can drive changes in health care delivery and can lead to different experiences and outcomes for both providers and patients.
The course includes case studies, didactic material, and exercises. A group midterm project, a response paper and a blog post, a final paper, and regular preparation for and participation in class are required. 
Our goal is for students to complete the course with a better understanding of how health care is structured and financed, the stakeholders who influence health care policy and delivery, and the ability and desire to ask critical questions and evaluate proposals to drive increased value in health care.  
Course Restricted: HCM students only