Health Care Supply

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor, Undergraduate

The objective of this course is to use the basic principles of microeconomics to study the health care system with particular emphasis on providers (physicians, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, the pharmaceutical industry, the medical device industry). Throughout the course, current issues and problems that exist in the health care marketplace today will be emphasized. The course will cover the latest developments in the health care sector including private equity and purchases of hospitals, nursing homes and physician practices; the controversy surrounding Medicare Advantage; and Medicare’s ability to negotiate prices for Part B. Drugs. We will use economic tools to help gain a better understanding of each of these issues. The course will focus on the payment system for each provider type and how the financial incentives inherent in each reimbursement structure influence provider behavior.