This course will focus on the role and function of healthcare policy and how healthcare policy guides
social and behavioral change. Students will learn how managers use policy to identify, define and produce service
delivery alternatives and revenue streams. Consideration will be given to the varied (and sometimes conflicting)
motivations of policymakers, payers, providers and patients. The course will investigate the policies surrounding
the World Health Organization’s (WHO) public health policies on mental health and contagious diseases as well as
on the United States Federal policies on the Affordable Care Act (Obama care), Medicaid, Medicare, and HIPPA.
Students will review and prepare evidence-based policy briefs that bring together global and local research
evidence to inform policy dialogues about the advantages and disadvantages of a policy as well as the costs of
alternative healthcare interventions. Values and preferences for making policies within a pluralistic society will
be considered.
Prerequisites
All courses in the major (senior status)