Healthcare Systems and Regulatory Environments

This course opens with a comprehensive overview of the functions of various types of healthcare organizations: providers, insurance companies, government agencies, and professional associations. Alternative payment and provider models are reviewed, regulatory bodies and issues are explored, and healthcare reform efforts and proposals are discussed. Supply and demand projections for personnel are examined. The work of key federal agencies (NIH, National Center for Disease Control, and Food and Drug Administration) is reviewed as well as the activity of national and international non-governmental organizations. Major national and global public health challenges are introduced.