Course Detail:

Explores how principles of economic analysis can be applied to the field of healthcare. This course will explore how healthcare economics is unique through an exploration of healthcare markets (including supply, demand, production, and costs) and how cost-benefit analysis is performed when the output presents challenges for measurement. For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale:

The course examines, from an economic perspective, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its implications for all aspects of healthcare financing and delivery. The course and selected text materials explain the magnitude of the ACA legislation and how it affects all stakeholders including physicians, hospitals, employers, employees, insurers, the insured, and state and federal governments. The course will help the student link the ACA to topics such as the rise in medical expenses, the high cost of prescription medications, the projected shortage of physicians, the future role of hospitals, and the evolution of managed care. Look over my recommended prerequisite courses at Liberty University if you need help deciding.

Measurable Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Integrate a biblical worldview within the context of healthcare economics.
• Research economic influences related to the healthcare delivery system.
• Identify how public policy influences the economy of healthcare.
• Examine the importance of economics in health care decisions, for both the demand and supply-side factors, based upon knowledge of current literature and industry best practices.

Course Assignment:

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (8)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided promptly for each discussion. Each thread must be at least 500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 300 words. The student must include at least 1 citation in the current APA format for each thread and reply.

Research Project:

The student will write a 20-page research-based paper in the current APA format that focuses on an applied topic of the student’s choosing related to healthcare economics and decision-making in the healthcare industry or a healthcare facility. The paper must include at least 15 references in addition to the course textbook and the Bible. The student will complete an Annotated Bibliography, Outline, Draft, and Final in order to complete this project.

Annotated Bibliography Assignment:

The student must list at least 15 scholarly sources from peer-reviewed journals, not including the course textbook and the Bible. A single paragraph of 50–75 words must be provided to give a brief description of each resource. All sources must be less than 10 years old.

Outline Assignment:

The student must include a thesis statement, the research questions/issues being addressed, how much space will be allotted for each section of the paper, and a preliminary reference list of at least 15 scholarly articles from peer-reviewed journals. All sources must be less than 10 years old.

Draft Assignment:

The student will create a full rough draft of the Research Project. This assignment must be at least 20 pages and include at least 15 scholarly references.

Final Assignment:

The final submission for this project will maintain the same parameters as the draft. However, the student will receive feedback on the Draft from his/her instructor and must revise the Final based on this feedback. The Final will be submitted through SafeAssign to check for plagiarism.

Entire Quizzes (8)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned module: week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple-choice questions, and have a 30-minute time limit.