Issues-Approaches-Hlth Po

How is the health care system organized? Who pays the bill? Why have efforts to enact national health insurance failed? What role does government now play in the US health care system, and how do different levels of government share these tasks? Contrary to many perceptions, the fervent debate of these questions is not a recent phenomenon; these are issues that have been argued vigorously throughout American political history. Exploring these debates is critical both to the development of public health policy and the management of delivery systems. This course focuses on policy and management issues that affect all health care practitioners. We will examine, among other topics, the historical foundations of the American health care system, the rise of managed care, the make-up of the healthcare workforce, the key issues on the nation’s long-term care policy agenda, and ways in which government can encourage good quality care. This introductory course is intended for MHA students and serves to fulfill a core course requirement in Health Policy and Management.