Health Care Economics
Economics 415*
Fall,
2003
|
Instructor: |
R. Morris
Coats, Ph.D., Argent
Bank Professor of Business
Administration |
Office: |
102B
White |
|
Office
Hours: |
10:00-noon,
MWF; noon-1:00PM TR or by appointment
| ||
|
e-mail: |
Phone: |
(985)448-4237 | |
|
web: |
Fax: |
(985)448-4922 | |
Course Description
Economics 415*--Health Care
Economics
Prerequisites
Junior standing, QBA 282 and
Economics 211.
Required Text
James Henderson
(2002). Health Economics & Policy, 2nd ed.,
Some Links for Health Economics
Course Objective and Goals
Overall Course
Objective:
To apply economic analysis
to both market and non-market (i.e. government) institutions to increase
understanding of health care markets.
Course Goals:
The successful student will:
1.
Use basic economic analysis
and statistical tools to answer questions about issues concerning the health
care industry.
2.
Gain historical and current
information on health related markets in the
3.
Develop a detailed demand
and supply model of the health care industries.
4.
Develop an understanding of
the effects of third-party financing of health care on health care costs.
5.
Compare and contrast the
6.
Discuss the roles of both
public and private sector financing of health care and the division between
public and private health care goods and services.
7.
Analyze the role of
professional education, training and licensing in physician and allied health
professions, and their effects on quality and cost of health care.
8.
Compare and contrast the
market and the public sector as organizing forces in the structure, conduct and
performance of the health industry.
9.
Examine the structure of
health care markets and the public and private institutions that make up the
competitive environment for the health care organization.
10.
Discuss the role of profit
and not-for-profit provider firms in the health care industry.
11.
Analyze the role of limited
information (significant information costs) on the competitive environment of
the health care industry and its role in the problems of supplier-induced
demand and moral hazard with health insurance.
12.
Discuss the problems of the
Course Requirements and Method of Evaluation
Course Requirements:
1.
Attendance at all class
meetings.
2.
Text readings as in Course
Outline, below, as well as articles, handouts, and materials on reserve in the
library. 3. Students must write or co-author and present a research paper (not a
review of the literature) incorporating applied economic analysis and/or
statistical analysis.
3.
Students must give an oral
critique on at least one paper by their classmates.
4.
Students must critique the
text and other materials.
5.
Knowledge of basic
principles of economics and statistics.
6.
Midterm and Final
Examinations must be taken.
7.
Undergraduates are to write
one course paper; graduate students are to write two course papers.
Research Paper/Presentation:
Papers may be
co-authored with no more than one other class member. Papers may include topics
such as statistical estimates of facility cost functions, production functions,
organization survivor analysis (economies of scale), the extent of
cost-shifting, effects of smoking regulations and taxes on cigarette demand (see
me about this), and regulation and tort law in blood products in the shadow of
AIDS, the causes of the explosion of Medicaid expenditures in Louisiana.
Paper Presentations and Discussions:
Both co-authors must share
responsibilities of presenting your paper. You will also each be involved in
critiquing the work of others' work, with an oral, in-class discussion of their
work following the paper presentation. Time limits for presentation and
discussion will be based on the number of students in the class. This critique
gives authors some chance to revise their papers.
Try to say something in your paper--dare to be original. Use data and statistical analysis to support a thesis. Please, do not merely review what a dozen authors have already said. I will help you in putting your paper together. If you see me well before the deadline, I will look it over and give you suggestions.
Paper Co-authors:
You may work in pairs on your major paper, though this is not required. You are to turn in an evaluation of your co-author that will become part of your paper/presentation grade.
Paper Deadlines:
Proposals (1-3 pages) for pre-approved paper topics must be approved by September 11. Since this may involve lengthy discussion to arrive at an appropriate topic, make an appointment to see me ASAP. The first draft for the paper is due on November 4th. A working draft of the paper is due on November 18th. The final draft of the paper is due at the beginning of the class period on December 2th.
Paper Guidelines:
Length: 10 to 20 pages (only a guide)
Bare Minimum References:
3 books (other than textbooks)
10 academic journal articles (not magazines, if you do not know the difference, journal articles contain many references, magazines seldom contain any)
2 federal or other government documents
Follow basic APA style.
Journals (a partial list):
Economics journals (in the
library):
Journal of Health
Economics, American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of
Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, Review of Economic
Studies, Econometrica, Applied Economics, Southern
Economic Journal, the Journal of Law and Economics, the Journal of Legal
Studies and Economic Inquiry.
Many more available through J-STOR.
Health care and hospital journals (in the
library):
Health Care Financing
Review, Health Care Management
Review, Health Services Reports, Health Services Research, Healthcare Financial
Management, Hospital Progress, Hospital Topics, Hospital and Health Services
Administration, Hospitals, and Hospitals and Health
Networks.
Graduate Students:
While I do not expect you to use primary data (data you collect yourself), data from published sources will suffice, you are expected to use basic statistical methods to test some proposition or to estimate some relationship.
Late Penalties:
Written assignments are due by 4:00 pm on the
due date. Assignments are considered one day late if they are turned in later
than 4:00 pm on the due date. Written assignments that are late get a penalty of
20 percent of the possible points for each day that it is late. If the
assignment is turned in after 4:00 the day after class, it will be at least two
days late. You may avoid late penalties by using e-mail or fax to get the
assignment to me. If you are late getting the copies of your working (polished)
draft to discussants (these are due the week before presentations), they will be
exempt from giving you a critique (as they will have nothing to critique) and
you will not be permitted to present--you will forfeit presentation
points.
Oral presentations, such as the presentation of
your own paper or the oral discussion/critique of your peer's paper cannot be
given late, you will simply forfeit those
points.
Exams:
There will be two exams, a midterm and a final. The exams will be essay-type exams, with some short "define, identify or explain" questions and some more involved essay questions. The final is not comprehensive. The exams for graduate students will be different from those given to undergraduates.
Grade Computation:
The course grade will be computed on the basis of the
total points accumulated during the course, with 1000 points being possible for
the course.
|
Grading Scale: |
|
|
|
|
|
letter grade |
minimum score |
|
A |
900 |
|
B |
800 |
|
C |
700 |
|
D |
600 |
Breakdown of Possible Points
for the Course:
|
PAPER PROJECT |
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal |
15 |
|
|
|
First draft |
30 |
|
|
|
Working draft (presented
version) |
50 |
|
|
|
Oral
Presentation |
90 |
|
|
|
Final Version |
150 |
|
|
|
Evaluation of
Co-author |
15 |
|
|
TOTAL POINTS FROM
PAPER |
|
|
350 |
|
CRITIQUE OF PEER'S
PAPER |
|
|
50 |
|
EXAMS |
|
|
|
|
|
Midterm |
250 |
|
|
|
Final |
350 |
|
|
TOTAL POINTS FROM
EXAMS |
|
|
600 |
|
TOTAL POINTS
POSSIBLE |
|
|
1000 |
Attendance:
Each unexcused absence after I have the final
class role will receive a penalty of 25 points. I must receive excuses by the
next class period. I will excuse you for your own illness, a child's illness,
and unavoidable work assignments (with a note from your employer). Vacations and
studying or working for other classes are not excused absences.
Academic Accommodations for
Disabilities:
If you have a
documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to register with
the Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic
accommodations. The Office of
Disability Services is located in Peltier Hall,
Room100-A. The phone number is (985) 448-4430 (TDD
449-7002).
Other Class Policies
Make-up Policy:
Make-up exams will be given for those who have a valid
excuse. Unless you can give proof that you have been abducted by aliens or have
been in a coma, you must get in touch with me and schedule the make-up exam no
later than the end of the working day (4:30 PM) of the regularly scheduled exam.
You must schedule the make-up exam for a time either during regular office hours
or during one of my classes. You can schedule the exam with my secretary by
calling my office phone and leaving a message. Do not wait to talk to me the
day of the next exam.
Expected Class Demeanor:
1.
No smoking or
eating will be tolerated in the classroom -- before, during or after
class.
2.
Leaving early is
disruptive of classroom activities and will not be permitted unless you have
permission from me or become ill.
3.
Talking in class
while I am speaking or while someone else has permission to speak is both
distracting and rude and will not be tolerated.
4.
Courteous behavior
towards all is expected.
5.
Read assigned
material before the class on that material.
Course Outline
|
Topics, Assignments, Exams and Holidays |
Chapters from Text |
Date |
|
I. Health Care Markets: An Introduction |
|
|
|
A. Some
Problems in the Market for Health Care in the
U.S. |
1 |
26-Aug |
|
B. Health
Care and Economic Principles |
2 |
28-Aug |
|
C. Analyzing
Health Care Markets with Economics |
3 |
9-Sept |
|
II. Demand-Side Considerations |
|
|
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A. Demand for
Health and Health Care |
4 |
16-Sept |
|
B. Health
Insurance and 3rd Party Payers |
5 |
23-Sept
|
|
III. Supply-Side Considerations |
|
|
|
A. Health
Care Professionals |
6 |
30-Sept |
|
B. Hospitals
Services |
7 |
7-Oct |
|
Midterm Exam |
1-7 |
9-Oct |
|
C. Managed
Care |
8 |
14-Oct |
|
IV. Social, Legal and Technological Considerations |
|
|
|
A. Sex, Drugs
and Rock and Roll |
9 |
21-Oct |
|
B. An Aging
Population |
10 |
28-Oct |
|
C. Medical
Malpractice |
11 |
4-Nov |
|
D. The Role
of Technology |
12 |
11-Nov |
|
V. Public Policy in Medical Care |
|
|
|
A. Policies
to Enhance Access |
13 |
18-Nov |
|
B. Policies
to Contain Costs |
14 |
|
|
C. Health
Care Systems Around the World |
15 |
|
|
D. Health
Care Reform in the Working Draft of Paper Due |
16 |
25-Nov |
|
Thanksgiving Holidays |
|
|
|
E. Economic
Principles and Health Policy--Paper Presentations |
17 |
2-Dec |
|
Final Exam Looking for
your final grades in my classes? Try
the Grade Reporter. |
8-17 |
5-Dec |
Other due dates given
later.
Disclaimer:
This is a syllabus, a plan, not a contract, and
should not be interpreted in any way as a contract. Since this is the first time
through this course, we may not cover as much as is planned.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
CHEATING
A. On Exams:
1. During an exam
a. wearing a hat or cap
b. looking on another exam or letting someone see your answers.
c. any communication between (among) students.
d. looking at notes, books, cheat sheets, etc., during the exam unless the instructor informs you that the exam is open book or open notes in advance, or allows a formula or "cheat" sheet.
e. taking a copy of the exam out of the room without specific authorization to do so, that is, if the instructor doesn't specifically say one way or another if you may take a copy of the exam. Taking a copy of the exam would constitute cheating.
f. not reporting any cheating you observe.
g. having anything written on clothing, skin, etc., that would give the student an advantage.
2. Not during an exam.
a. asking a fellow student who has previously taken an exam anything about the exam other than is it difficult or long.
b. stealing, receiving, or copying any unauthorized copy of the exam.
c. not reporting any cheating you observe which includes not reporting someone who tells you of another's cheating but does not report.
d. any planning with another to steal an exam even if the plans are not carried out.
B. On other assignments:
1. Copying any answer to assigned questions or problems constitutes cheating unless the project is a group project, and then only from members of your group.
2. Asking or answering any questions concerning the assignment other than the instructor or the instructor's assistant with the exception of the question: When is it due?
3. Allowing someone access to your assignment answers or gaining access to another's assignment answers. It is acceptable to photocopy someone's assignment questions as long as there are no answers.
4. Getting someone else to do any computation or computer work for you or doing it for another, including having someone else do the statistics for you for a paper.
C. Any bribe or threat or hint of an attempt at
bribe or threat will be considered cheating,
including something like the following:
1. I will do anything for an A (or B or C etc.) or
2. What can I do to get a better grade? It is acceptable to ask the instructor what you need to work on to improve your performance. Giving unfair aid is as serious as receiving it. Knowing about others cheating without reporting it to the instructor or the instructor's department chairman is also cheating. This does not mean that you cannot seek help from another to understand a concept or even how to work a problem similar to the one you cannot see how to work. Also, though collaboration on assignments is cheating, I wish to encourage you to study together, discuss paper topics, etc.
Penalty for infractions of
cheating rules is an F in the course and a recommendation for dismissal from the
university.
10 Easy Ways to Get Caught
Cheating
Top 10 Consequences of Cheating
PLAGIARISM
A. Copying any assignment or any part of an assignment by someone else without giving that person credit. This is particularly relevant to any out-of-class assignment in this class. Also, do not talk to others that would give them special clues to solve some puzzle in an assignment.
B. Letting or asking anyone to copy a paper.
C. Having someone else write papers for you. It is allowable for someone else to type your paper for you, but typists, even when paid, should be acknowledged.
D. Any comments from another person on your paper's topic should be properly acknowledged.
E. Knowledge of someone handing in work not their own.
F. Copying word for word or even almost word for word constitutes plagiarism without identifying the words as a quotation.
G. Paraphrasing without citation.
H. Copy another's ideas without citation
Penalty for infractions of the plagiarism rules is an F in the course and a recommendation for dismissal from the university.
10 Easy Ways to Get Caught
Cheating