A study of the concept of risk and its treatment by insurance. It covers why the individual or corporation purchases insurance, what constitutes an intelligent insurance plan and what products are available in the insurance marketplace.

Presents and examines various aspects of the U.S. health care delivery system as well as introduces and compares the health care systems in different countries. Attention is paid to the financing, reimbursement, and delivery of medical care, the adoption of new medical technologies, and the role of the market and government. The effect of health care system design on cost, quality, efficiency, and equity is studied.

This course demonstrates how basic economic concepts, principles, and theories can be used to think about and illuminate various health care issues. Rather than focus on a few current health care problems, attention is directed toward an array of health-related topics. Students are provided with a set of economic tools to evaluate a theoretical or empirical argument relating to health or medical care. The course culminates with an in-depth analysis of the structure, conduct, and performance of the markets for physician services, hospital services, pharmaceutical products, and long-term care.

Addresses various business practices associated with providing private health insurance such as underwriting, medical claims cost control, pricing, and marketing. In that context, managed care techniques and benefit package designs including consumer directed health plans, and value-based insurance design, are discussed. Attention is also paid to design and functioning of various social insurance programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment compensation, disability insurance, workers compensation, and social security.

Introduction to the United States legal system as it relates to health care, public health and ethics. Sessions represent important applications of law to health including the powers of the state governments; privacy and confidentiality in health care; the right to privacy; the right to refuse treatment and end of life issues; hospital, physician and managed care liability; the Americans with Disabilities Act; and public health policy and advocacy. Structured to encourage lively and interesting in-class discussions of legal and ethical principles as they relate to the health care system.

This course provides students with cost-benefit analysis tools to enhance healthcare business and policy decision making. The following topics will be covered: methods to estimate the monetary equivalence of costs and benefits; interpretation of research findings; simulation methods to derive the aggregate effects of firm and policy interventions; time value of money and discounting; hypothesis testing; cost-effectiveness analysis; causal inference concepts to differentiate descriptive associations from cause-and-effect studies. In addition to course lectures, the instructor will present research articles providing credible input for business- and policy-level cost-benefit analysis.

Covers clinical and social issues affecting health care provider organizations, such as the health needs of special population groups, public health concerns, epidemiological issues, and health care quality. Discussion will include how health care organizations address such issues through methods including clinical studies, disease management, partnership between private and public sectors, and legislative initiatives.

Supervised internship in a health care organization where students work with health care professionals to expand their expertise in solving health systems problems and increase their awareness of the issues involved in the day to day operations of a health care institution. Student performance will be evaluated on the basis of an appraisal by the field supervisor and a detailed written report submitted by the student. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).

Classroom course in special topics in health systems management as announced in advance for semester.

Individual study of special topics in health systems management as mutually arranged between a student and an instructor.

Individual study of special topics on health care management and insurance.