Economics of Health Care: Public vs. Market Resolutions
HPM 545
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
The objective of this course is to learn how to think about the major issues facing the federal and state governments as they consider how best to regulate the U.S. health care system, using an applied economics framework. In particular, the goal is for students to be able to articulate which issues require government intervention to be resolved, which problems can be resolved by private markets, and why. The course builds on introductory microeconomics and focuses on real-world examples of market failures, government policy options, and unintended consequences of public policy interventions. Among the issues we will examine in the course are: how to finance health insurance; appropriate use of risk adjustment and other strategies to manage the insurance risk pool; approaches to cost-sharing by patients; subsidies for insurance purchase; the effects of individual and employer mandates for insurance coverage; and approaches to managing health care spending. These issues all involve choices about the extent to which markets can resolve the issues and what types of government policies would help the markets work more efficiently and/or more fairly.
Course Prerequisite(s): HPM 206, GHP 230, HPM 209, or permission of instructor if you have previously completed an alternative course in microeconomics. For the latter option, please submit by email to <bsommers@hsph.harvard.edu> a copy or link to the course syllabus of the class you took previously, as well as documentation of your grade in the course.
Class Notes
THIS CLASS HAS PRIORITY ENROLLMENT
Priority Wave Groups
Wave 1 | MPH45 HM, MPH65 HM, MPH45 HP, MPH65 HP, HPM SM1
Wave 2 | Open Enrollment
Wave 3 | Open Enrollment
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Priority Wave Timing
Wave 1 | 1/7/2027 11:00 AM - 1/17/2027 11:59 PM
Wave 2 | 1/18/2027 12:00 AM - 1/20/2027 11:59 PM
Wave 3 | 1/21/2027 12:00 AM Enrollment Deadline (varies by session)
Any student who does not meet the Wave 1 or Wave 2 criteria can add themselves to the waitlist (if enrollment requirements are met) at any time during the enrollment period. At the beginning of each priority wave, students on the waitlist who meet the Wave’s criteria will be automatically enrolled into any remaining seats in the course (pending no time conflicts)
**Cross-Registrants and Non-Degree Students will be enrolled on a space available basis after the enrollment deadline for the course
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
