Healthcare Economic Ecosystems

This course focuses on the economic ecosystem of healthcare. Students will explore the historical origins of the U.S. healthcare system and the impact of that history on the current state of healthcare economics. Students will learn about the fundamental concepts of macroeconomics as they relate to healthcare and will analyze the relationships among value, quality, and price within the healthcare delivery system. The course explores the roles of both commercial/private and government-sponsored healthcare payers in providing access to care across populations. Students will examine the impact of health policy and reform efforts on public health as well as on access to quality care, health equity, and health disparities. Through an understanding of the healthcare economic ecosystem, students will gain insights into how the U.S. healthcare system may be changed or improved to provide higher quality care at a lower cost to more people, communities, and populations.