HCS 440 (Economics the Financing of Health Care) Complete Class
Week 1 – Individual Assignment: Economic Terms and Health Care History
Resource: Economic Terms and Health Care History grading criteria on the student website.
· Complete the Economic Terms Exercise in Week One of the student website.
o Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you include the following:
Describe the history and evolution of health care economics and the timeline of health care FUNDING, using the defined terms.
o Include two outside resources.
· Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
· Submit your paper and a copy of the completed exercise to your facilitator.
Week 2 – Learning Team Assignment: Health Care Reform Project, Part I
Resource: Health Care Reform Project, Part 1 grading criteria on the student website.
Select a current health care economic issue, such as managed care, health care spending, prescription drugs, the influence of current legislation on health care, medical care for an aging population, or the influence of illegal immigrants on health care economics in the United States.
Write a 1,050- to 1,750-word paper in which you address the following:
Describe the issue.
Perform a literature search on the issue. Find at least three articles and provide a summary of the articles.
Research, identify, and describe three possible solutions. The solutions do not need to be extensive, but must represent solutions identified in your research.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Week 3 – Individual Assignment: Health Care Spending Paper
Resource: Health Care Spending Paper grading criteria on the student website.
Write a 1,250- to 1,750-word paper in which you explain your position on national health care spending in the United States. Include information on the following:
The level of current national health care expenditures
Whether the spending is too much or not enough
Where the nation should add or cut, and why
How the publics health care needs are paid for, such as being FINANCED by various payers, while indicating the percent of total expenditures they represent
Provide a forecast of the following:The future economic needs of the HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Why these needs must be addressed
How you envision these needs will be financed
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Week 4 Individual Assignment: Economic Issues Simulation Paper
Review the Health Care Economics Issues HMO Simulation.
Resource: Economic Issues Simulation Paper grading criteria on the student website.
Select either Constructit or E-editor to analyze for your paper.
Prepare a 1050- to 1400 paper in which you present a profile of the chosen company including the demographics of the employees, the health care risk factors (potential areas of high utilization), and the premiums the company is willing to pay.
As a representative of Castor insurance, your job is to maximize profit and minimize risk for the company. Based on your analysis of potential utilization, give at least two reasons why each plan could be selected. Then state which plan you would select to sell to your chosen company? What are the reasons for this decision? Why did you not select the other plans offered?
Week 5 Learning Team Assignment: Health Care Reform Project, Part II
Resource: Health Care Reform Project, Part II grading criteria on the student website.
Prepare a Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation in which you summarize health care reform material.
Assume you are making a presentation to the board of directors concerning your investigation into the selected economic issue.
Have a minimum of 10 to 15 slides with extensive speakers notes, augmenting and expanding on the information presented in each slide.
Include the following in your presentation:
Determine and explain which solution is most effective.
o Explain your reasoning for choosing the solution.
Explain why the solution will work. 1.
Week 5 Learning Team Assignment: Health Care Reform Project, Part II
Resource: Health Care Reform Project, Part II grading criteria on the student website.
Prepare a Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation in which you summarize health care reform material.
Assume you are making a presentation to the board of directors concerning your investigation into the selected economic issue.
Have a minimum of 10 to 15 slides with extensive speakers notes, augmenting and expanding on the information presented in each slide.
Include the following in your presentation:
Determine and explain which solution is most effective.
Explain your reasoning for choosing the solution.
Explain why the solution will work.
Week 1 Discussion Questions
DQ 1: What is the difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics? Discuss and contrast the two theories
DQ 2: What is a demand curve? Provide an example of a demand curve in health care. How could this example affect the economics of health care?
DQ 3: How is total revenue for an organization determined? How is marginal revenue determined? Why is it necessary to know what your marginal revenue is in a health care organization?
Week 2 Discussion Questions
DQ 1: What has been the effect of DRG’s on hospital admissions and the length of stay? What are some advantages and disadvantages of DRG’s? Why were DRG’s developed?
DQ 2: What advantage would a physician have by accepting a capitation rate from a managed care plan? What would be the disadvantages?
DQ 3: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a for-profit hospital and a non-profit hospital?
Week 3 Discussion Questions
DQ 1: What would be the risks and benefits of a young, healthy person choosing a managed care plan? What would be the risks and benefits of an older person with a chronic disease selecting a managed care plan? Explain your reasoning.
DQ 2: What is an example of a shift from inpatient care to outpatient care? Why is this situation happening?
DQ 3: How can a lifestyle choice affect the demand for health care services and healthcare costs? Give examples.
Week 4 Discussion Questions
DQ 1: What are the advantages for a hospital in conducting a cost-benefit analysis on a new health care service an insurance company is considering, such as screening for a specific medical condition, as a covered benefit?
DQ 2: Would medical technology development have progressed as rapidly as it did without the creation of Medicare and Medicaid? Explain your reasoning.
DQ 3: Has managed care been successful in controlling health care costs? Why or why not
Week 5 Discussion Questions
DQ 1: Is access to HEALTH CARE SERVICES a right or a privilege? Support your response
DQ 2: What is the economic difference between socialized medicine and PRIVATE HEALTH CARE?