LS420 – Unit 1 Overview of Health Care Policy Scott's Notes

Today's Seminar Agenda Tonight's action-packed agenda includes: Review of course outcomes and assignments Personal Introductions & Technology Overview of the entire course through Unit 10 In-Depth overview of Unit 1 Parting Comments

Course Outcomes LS420-1: Evaluate the U.S. system of health care LS420-2: Relate current health care policies to the process of their development LS420-3: Integrate new health care policies into existing policies and programs LS420-4: Synthesize the concepts, issues and institutions that have shaped the development of health care policy in the U.S. GEL-1.1: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard American English GEL-2.2: Interpret various data formats

Dropbox Assignments Unit 2: Short Essay - 10-part summary of ideas/concepts/etc points Unit 3: Project sentence thesis statement points Unit 3: Short Essay - age, gender and racial disparity in medical access - 7 parts - Unit 4: Project - annotated bibliography and three-level outline - 60 points Unit 6: Short Essay pages on how you would reform the system if money were no object points Unit 7: Project - first draft due - 75 points Unit 9: Project - final draft due points Unit 9: Final Essay words on how the next US President (2012) should set health policy points

Personal Introductions and Technology Where are you, and how's the weather? Why are you taking this class and how many terms do you have left before graduation? What is your legal experience, if any? What is your medical experience, if any? Do you have strong opinions about health policy right now? What kind of computer and what browser are you using?

Unit 1 Objectives Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to: Explain what is meant by health care “politics”; Discuss the difference between politics and policy; Discuss the chronology of significant events and legislation in U.S. Health Care; Describe the health policy environment in the U.S. today; Identify the key actors in health policy in the U.S. today; and Discuss the major issues in health policy in the U.S. from the 1800s to the present time.

Unit 1 Discussion Board Should states mandate that pre-teen girls be vaccinated against cervical cancer? Also consider the following: Why is the vaccine itself controversial? What controversy arose about the methods of the manufacturer in “selling” the vaccine idea to state legislatures? In your opinion, what is the most level-headed policy that state legislatures could adopt concerning the vaccine? Use Google or a search engine of your choice to learn more and to assist you in posting an informed response. Also, please provide the link to your resources. Hint: An excellent jumping-off point is the article listed under "Additional Readings."

Unit 2 Objectives Explain the historical and political backdrop of the two significant health care laws operative today—Medicare and Medicaid. Differentiate between participation in and entitlement to Medicare and Medicaid. Articulate how changes in politics have led to changes in policies relating to Medicare and Medicaid.

Unit 3 Objectives Articulate who are the uninsured in America today; Compare and contrast what it means to be uninsured and underinsured in America today; Explain the consequences of being uninsured or underinsured in America today; Suggest some workable solutions to help the uninsured and underinsured; Explain the roles of the federal government, state governments, insurance companies, and health care providers in the rising costs of health care; Describe examples of health care rationing; Provide concrete examples of things that can be done to bring or hold down the costs of health care in the U.S; and Discuss the political barriers to increasing access to health care and holding down the costs of health care.

Unit 4 Objectives Explain the elements of medical malpractice law and its place in the law of torts and negligence; Analyze the evidence that supports and undermines the argument that there is a medical malpractice “crisis” in the United States; Articulate the major criticisms of the current medical malpractice systems in the U.S. today; Contrast the alternatives and “reforms” suggested to change medical malpractice law; and Describe the so-called “reform” measures in medical malpractice law that have taken place at the state and federal governmental levels.

Unit 5 Overview Reflection and Thinking (and Catching Up)

Unit 6 Objectives Describe the systemic political and market problems that are barriers to U.S. health care reform; Explain the role of special interests in thwarting health care reform; Discuss what states have done to try to manage the growth of Medicaid programs; Define single payer health care; and Articulate your approach to a reasonable, acceptable policy for health care reform in the U.S.

Unit 7 Objectives Articulate the twists and turns of attempts at health care reform in the late 1990s. Explain the impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) on health care today. Define the concept of managed care. Compare and contrast HMO managed care plans, fee for services plans, and preferred provider plans. Describe the “patient’s rights” movement and its effect on managed care as we know it today.

Unit 8 Objectives Summarize the growth areas of health care technology in the past 25 years; Explain the impact of health care technology on health care access and costs; Describe how advances in health care technology contribute to the need for rationing of health care; and Articulate some of the more pressing ethical and moral issues associated with recent technological advances in health care.

Unit 9 Objectives Summarize what you have learned about health policy in the U.S. today; Demonstrate understanding of the tensions and conflicts among health care special interests and the health care consumer; and Refine and articulate your assessment of what you think are the most pressing policy issues in U.S. health care today.

Unit 10 Overview Another round of reflection and catch-up, as well as your chance to judge the job performance of the course and of your professor.

Unit 1 Issues – Part 1 Explain what is meant by health care “politics”; Discuss the difference between politics and policy; Discuss the chronology of significant events and legislation in U.S. Health Care;

Unit 1 Issues – Part 2 Describe the health policy environment in the U.S. today; Identify the key actors in health policy in the U.S. today; and Discuss the major issues in health policy in the U.S. from the 1800s to the present time.

Goodnight! We’ll be together again in 6 days and 23 hours!