Simmons College

Health and Economics

Thursdays 6-9pm, plus online work Prerequisites: GSM 411 This course examines unique aspects of the health industry that influence institutional decision-making and industry business performance. The course is designed for students who are finishing an MBA, and have some basic micro economic experience, but have not been exposed to the non profit health care sector. Using readings from the health economics literature, some of the unique aspects of the health industry are studied, such as health insurance (both social and private insurance), pricing and rate setting by payers, asymmetric information and market failure, household health production theory, and the role of professional licensing and other government regulation. The course also reviews topics such as profit / non-profit performance differences, non-profit financial reporting, for-profit conversions of non-profit organizations, and the evidence about what causes health care organizations to fail. The course will rely on a combination of lectures, selected readings, case preparation and short student papers.