Health Policy Formulation

Catalog description

The goal of this course is to analyze current major U.S. health policy issues and the critical processes and forces that shape them. The health policy issues addressed include rural health, Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured, public health, the impact of welfare policy on healthcare, managed-care development and regulation, state and federal healthcare reform, and others. Discussions will focus on the politics of health policy in terms of legislative and executive processes at the state and federal level; key forces involved including economic, social, ethical and political factors; and central players of importance, including special-interest groups, lobbyists, the press, elected officials, legislative staff and public agencies. Specific rural health issues will be suggested by students and discussions will be led by students.