HCA 504 Health Economics
This course presents the principles of microeconomic theory as it applies to health care. It answers questions like; how do markets work? What is competition and what does it do? What role does health insurance play? How do regulations in health care influence market behaviors? What other differences in health care make markets work differently? What gives rise to the "nursing shortage"? Why are health care costs so high and what drives the increases? What determines the levels of incomes of nurses and physicians? Why are there often conflicting theories about how markets work, and how are they tested? Students will demonstrate mastery of basic principles by writing short research papers and participate in class discussions.
Prerequisite
None