MHSA 7400 – Health Politics and Policy
Summer 2014
When:
Where:
Prereq:
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-Mail:
Office Hours:
Tuesday, 5:00P – 9:10P
Hawes 203
MHSA 6400 or permission of instructor
Joey Crosby, Ph.D, R.Ph
University Hall 154B
(912) 344-2657 (Office)
(912) 344-3490 (Fax)
(912) 660-0263 (Cell/text)
joey.crosby@armstrong.edu
joey.crosby@windstream.net
Mondays, 2:00 – 5:00P
Tuesdays, 2:00 – 5:00P
Thursdays, 2:00 – 5:00P
Course Description
As per the AASU graduate catalogue, the purpose of this course is to
provide the student with an overview of the policymaking process that results in
the formulation of health policy in the public sphere. Topics considered include
principles of public policy analysis, policy evaluation methods, and political
environmental assessment techniques. Various domains of current health policy
interest are also discussed.
Course Objectives
By the close of this semester’s class, it is anticipated that each student
will be able to demonstrate the following competencies as referenced in the
Healthcare Leadership Alliance Health Services Management Competency
Model, version 2.0:
Learning Objective /
Competency
 The general typology
of public health
policy, substantive
goals of various
health policies, and
the relationship of
health policy to
population health
status
HLA Domains
Domain 4: Healthcare
Environment
A. Knowledge of legal /
regulatory environment
of healthcare system
B. Knowledge of public
policymaking
environment and how it
impacts healthcare
system
Assessment
● Homework
assignments
● Course examination
● Lecture and class
discussion
Learning Objective /
Competency
 The steps in the
public policymaking
process and key
process stakeholders
and their interactions


The process of policy
analysis and the
various tools and
techniques utilized to
analyze / evaluate
public policy
alternatives in a
variety of
policymaking
environments
The ability to
communicate
effectively in written
and oral form,
including group
presentation skills
HLA Domains
Assessment
Domain 4: Healthcare
Environment
B. Knowledge of public
policymaking
environment and how it
impacts healthcare
system
● Homework
assignments
● Course examination
● Lecture and class
discussion
● Health Policy
Analysis Paper
Domain 5: Business
Knowledge and Skills
A. Develop/refine
critical thinking,
problem solving, and
decision-making skills
● Homework
assignments
● Course examination
● Lecture and class
discussion
● Health Policy
Analysis Paper
Domain 1:
Communication and
Relationship
Management
B. Develop/refine oral,
written and
presentation skills
● Homework
assignments
● Course examination
● Health policy analysis
paper
● Health policy analysis
presentation
Course Textbook/Readings (Required)
Santerre, R.E. and Neun, S.P. Health Economics: Theories, Insights, and
Industry Studies. 6th Edition (2013).
Some students may have access to earlier editions of this text. I would not
recommend using any edition before the 5th as there are a number of significant
changes in the newer editions that make older editions less useful. Students that
choose to use any other edition other than the 6th will need to make sure that
they are covering the same material and completing the same HW assignments.
Any additional supplemental readings will be made available to students on a
week to week basis, either in hard copy form (in class) or electronically through
Google Documents or Galileo. Students are strongly encouraged to check their
course email on a daily basis for notification of the availability of such materials
and to stay up to date as much as possible.
Course Evaluation and Grading
The grading scale used to evaluate student performance will be the same
as that used in other AASU courses: 90-100 (A); 80-90 (B); 70-79 (C); 65-69 (D);
<65 (F). Any deviations from this standard grading schedule will be a result of
the distribution of class scores on particular assignments. Each student’s grade
in this course will be based on the following (with the relative weights for each):
1.
2.
3.
Homework Assignments
Health Policy Analysis/Presentation
Course Examination
30%
30%
40%
Homework Assignments
Students will be assigned a number of out-of-class course assignments
throughout the term (weekly or mostly weekly) to roughly coincide with the
material being covered in the lecture portion of the course. These assignments
will typically consist of selected review questions at the end of the textbook
chapters we will be covering and/or literature review/critique assignments based
on contemporary health policy literature. Generally speaking, students will be
given a week to complete each assignment and submit for credit. Students who
are not able to attend class, for whatever reason, will still be responsible for
obtaining and completing these assignments in a timely fashion. The instructor
reserves the right to deduct points for any homework assignments submitted
after the designated due date.
Health Policy Analysis Assignment
Students will be given the opportunity to apply principles and concepts
learned in the didactic portion of the class to “real world” health policy issues, in
the form of a formal policy review and analysis. Each student will be required to
select a health policy problem or issue (subsequent to instructor approval) and
conduct an extensive review of the policy literature for purposes of summarizing
the public policy history relating to the problem or issue as well as utilizing
various tools/techniques of policy analysis to make recommendations regarding
current/future policy alternatives.
Refinement of the health policy problem or issue to focus on a specific
health policy issue is probably most ideal in terms of identifying appropriate
sources of health policy literature to support the analysis/critique. Policy
“problems” that are too broad will likely make it more difficult to identify such
sources. I am available to assist students who have trouble identifying a policy
problem/issue and/or finding source literature regarding public policies
implemented for purposes of addressing such problems.
Examples of commonly cited problems or issues in health and/or health
care include, but are not limited to, any/all of the following:
**
**
**
**
**
Cost of healthcare
Quality of healthcare
Access to health services
Minority health / disparities
Human stem cell research
**
**
**
**
**
Medical malpractice reform
Health insurance regulation
Medical marijuana policy
Medicare/Medicaid policy
Health manpower policy
The format of the written analysis should be roughly similar to other formal
literature review and analysis-types of papers: approximately 10-20 pages in
length (excluding any appendices), typed, double-spaced, with appropriate
referencing of source materials used (APA or other suitable format accepted).
The analysis should include a general discussion of the policy problem/issue,
including any formal definitions, terms, or measurement issue(s) that may apply.
Such a discussion may also include conceptual models or theories (if any) that
have been developed to describe/explain the problem. The analysis should also
include, as stated above, a thorough discussion of the public policy history
related to addressing the problem. Such a discussion should include the
identification of legislation (at various levels), laws, and/or rules/regulations that
have been promulgated to address the policy problem. Students should also be
able to identify/classify different public policies based on the type of policy
intervention involved, and very generally critique/evaluate the effectiveness (or
lack thereof) of the various policy interventions based on evaluation criteria
presented in class.
The written policy analysis will be graded based on content, style,
structure, grammar and spelling. Students should meticulously proofread their
documents prior to submission, as poor grammar/style can result in substantial
reductions in the grade for this assignment as much as lack of content.
Policy Analysis Paper Presentation
Each student will be required to give an oral presentation of approximately
10-15 minutes in length that summarizes the results of his/her health policy
analysis towards the end of the term (see course schedule). Presentations will
be evaluated in terms of mastery of content, style, effectiveness of delivery, and
facilitation of group discussion/Q&A.
Student Performance / Conduct Expectations
At each registration, students must agree to abide by the rules of the
Honor Code and the Code of Conduct. The Honor Code and Code of Conduct
are printed in the AASU Catalog, Students Illustrated and on the University
website. Any student desiring assistance with any matter related to these Codes
is invited to seek assistance in the Division of Student Affairs.
Commensurate with their obligations associated with adherence to these
defined codes of conduct, all students in this course are expected to:
1. Exercise honesty in all matters, both academic and personal in nature.
2. Be fair and courteous with others, treat them fairly and with respect,
showing sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity and personal
dignity.
3. Accept personal responsibility for appropriate behavior as defined by
the Codes.
4. Know the offenses under each Code and the penalties for violating
them.
5. Understand that they are responsible for knowing and following any
additional written or verbal requirements given by the professor, which
relate to honor or conduct and which are inherent to the classroom or
University functions.
6. Know what plagiarism is, as defined under the Honor Code; recognize
that it undermines individual and academic integrity and ensure that it is
avoided in both spirit and deed.
Student Performance / Conduct Expectations (continued)
7. Understand that the Codes apply at all University activities whether on
the main campus or at other locations.
8. Remember that they are representatives of Armstrong Atlantic State
University and that they must always conduct themselves in a manner that
brings credit upon themselves and the University.
The MHSA program has also adopted an honor code policy for all of its
students as established by the Department of Health Sciences, effective Fall
2008. Any student who is caught violating AASU’s Honor Code and/or Code of
Conduct in any Health Sciences/MHSA course will be subject to the following
disciplinary action(s):
1.
2.
3.
The first instance will result in a score of zero (0) on the assignment in
question;
The second instance, regardless of whether it occurred in the same
course as the first, will result in an automatic failing grade (F) for the
course;
The third instance, regardless of whether prior instances occurred in
the same course, will result in dismissal from the program.
All Honor Code violations will be documented in the student’s
departmental file. Moreover, the instructor reserves the right to: (1) accelerate
the above three penalties based on the instructor’s assessment of the severity of
the violation; (2) report the Honor Code violation to the appropriate program
coordinator; (3) review assignments and exams from previous Health Sciences
courses for possible Honor Code infractions; and (4) refer instances of honor
offenses to the Office of Student Affairs and the AASU Honor Court. Lastly, it
should be noted that student ignorance of the specific provisions within the Code
of Student Conduct is not an acceptable defense in any such proceedings.
Students should thus exercise particular care to refrain from any activity or
behavior that has the appearance of constituting a violation of the Code.
Provisions for Students with Disabilities
All students that have a documented disability, whether permanent or
temporary, that will impact significantly on their ability to be successful in this
course, are encouraged to discuss the disability with me to allow for appropriate
assistance through the Office of Disability Services. All inquiries will be strictly
confidential.
Course Schedule (subject to change):
Date:
Topics Covered:
Santerre Chapter(s):
May 20:
Course Introduction
Introduction to Health Policy
Typology of Health Policy
Theories of Governmental Intervention
Health Care Reform (PPACA)
Ch. 9
Assigned readings
May 27:
Guest speaker – Tarry Hodges (SJC)
What does a health policy analyst do?
The Environment of Health Policy
The Public Policymaking Process
Policy Formulation
Policy Agendas for Health Care
Legislative development
Assigned readings
June 3:
The Public Policymaking Process (continued) Assigned readings
Policy Formulation
Policy Agendas for Health Care
Legislative development
Policy Implementation
________________________________________________________________
June 10:
The Public Policymaking Process (continued)
Ch. 3
Health Policy Outcomes (costs/benefits)
Assigned readings
Modification of Health Policy
Policy Analysis Topic Approval Due Date
________________________________________________________________
June 17:
Health Policy Domains – Cost of Health Care
Cost Containment – Theory and Practice
Price Controls vs. Market-based Rationing
June 25:
Health Policy Domains – Public Payers
Medicare and Medicaid Policy
Current and Future Issues
Ch. 10
Assigned readings
July 2
Health Policy Domains – Pharmaceuticals
Cost of Prescription Drugs
Pharmaceutical Industry Policy
Ch. 14
Assigned readings
Assigned readings
Course Schedule (subject to change):
Date:
Topics Covered:
Santerre Chapter(s):
July 9:
Health Policy Domains – Medical Malpractice
Ch. 12
Medical Malpractice – Policy Issues
Assigned readings
Health Manpower Supply – Policy Issues
July 16:
Health Policy Domains – Health Reform
Private Health Insurance – Policy Issues
Policy Options for Reform
The Politics of Health Reform
July 23:
Health Policy Topic TBA
Health Policy Analysis Presentations
Course Examination (tentative)
Policy Analysis Papers Due (tentative)
July 30 :
Course Examination Due (tentative)
Ch. 11, 16
Assigned readings