Evidence in Health Policy

Undergraduate / Graduate

In this course, we will consider the role of evidence and empirical studies in helping inform us about important health policy topics, such as the consequences of expanding the Medicaid program, the effects of private equity acquisitions of medical facilities, and the burden of medical debt. The course will be divided into two-lecture modules where, in the first, we will read an editorial or descriptive piece that helps introduce a health policy context, and, in the second, we will read a study that confronts the topic using modern empirical methods. In class, we will learn both about health policy and how to read and understand evidence in support or opposition of those policies. Out of class activities will including synthesizing studies to inform a prospective policy proposal and reanalyzing prior studies using actual data and statistical programming. This course was previously named Issues in Health Policy.