(5 credits)
The health of individuals as well as access to and delivery of health services in the United States depend on policy makers who make authoritative decisions based on legal standards, carried out at the federal, state, and local levels. Students in this course examine the process for developing and implementing policy at the various levels of the legal system, key stakeholders and interest groups involved in the health policy process, and how U.S. health policy changes over time. They also explore and discuss key health policy initiatives that address health issues in the United States, including Medicare and Medicaid; access to care and the uninsured; disease-specific efforts, such as HIV/AIDS and organ transplantation programs; emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; terrorism and emergency preparedness; and funding issues associated with health policy. Applying course concepts, students complete practical assignments focused on various topical issues, such as stakeholder influence on the policy-making process, access to insurance and care, and pay-for-performance policies, among others.