Week 1 Discussion Your state legislature is considering the following health policy proposal: Mandating that all female students entering the 6thgrade obtain the cervical cancer vaccine. Discuss the policy and economic questions associated with this proposal. Interest groups do not have the power to pass laws; however, they can and do influence policy decisions. Provide examples and discuss how interest groups have influenced health policy decisions. For example, motorcycle helmet laws – if we know that the use of a safety helmet can protect individuals from severe head and neck injuries in an accident, why do some states not have full helmet laws for all motorcycle riders? Week 2 Discussion Health policy is profoundly influenced by value-driven issues that cut across the entire U.S. policy landscape. Describe both positions (i.e., for and against) a current debate regarding a value-driven health policy issue. What interests in health policy do you bring to this class? McLaughlin’s Table 1-1 specifies the knowledge and skills called for in a policy analyst. Discuss for which of these areas do you currently feel prepared, and in which ones do you want to gain competence? Why? Week 3 Discussion Argue the following statement: Despite our relatively high level of healthcare expenditure, we may still be getting enough for our money. Discuss the social forces and other issues behind the move toward industrialization. Does industrialization threaten professional autonomy and control? If yes, why? If no, why? Please provide examples to support your position. Week 4 Discussion There may be a great deal of debate about the monopoly power of the medical profession. Discuss whether the following statement is true: “It is clear that the profession once exerted that power and that the power of the profession has been waning.” Please provide examples to support your responses. What role should government play in controlling increases in the cost of care and the cost of health coverage? What different choices do state and federal policymakers have in containing costs. Week 5 Discussion Discuss why those who propose a one-size-fits-all approach to solving health care problems are operating in a simplistic never-never land that ignores the complex interests of many stakeholders. Discuss why large and small employers seem to have different interests. Week 6 Discussion Table 5-1 inHealth Policy Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Approachis long, but it is not intended to exhaust the possibilities. What federal government alternatives would you like to add to that array? Post and defend your alternatives for inclusion in an expanded Table 5-1. Discuss why obtaining true free market competition would require considerable government intervention. Week 7 Discussion Discuss value-driven care initiatives in relation to pay-for-performance and medical home initiatives (demonstration projects). Discuss the different interests (and why) medical professionals and the institutions they work in can have ? even when they present a united front to the consumer. *************** Assignments Week 2 Assignment – Health Policy Reflection Paper Details: Think about the complexity of the issues that decision makers must consider when analyzing health policy problems and write a reflective paper of 500?750 words, addressing your position on the following: Describe how and why a health policy analyst needs to consider policy problems using political and legal analysis. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Week 2 Assignment – Analysis of a Stakeholder Pape Details: As the health care debate moves forward, there has been a lot of discussion about stakeholders, and possible winners and losers. Write a research paper of 750?1,000 words, addressing the following: 1. Select one stakeholder (e.g., AMA, ANA, insurers, hospitals, drug companies). 2. Describe the stakeholder’s positions on healthcare reform. 3. Why has the stakeholder taken these positions? 4. A minimum of three scholarly sources must be cited. Remember that Wikipedia is not considered a scholarly source. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Week 3 Assignment – U.S. Health Care System Paper Details: Write a research paper of 500?750 words, addressing the following: Compare the U.S. health care system to another country’s health care system focusing on why another country can achieve better health outcomes for less money? A minimum of three scholarly sources must be cited. Remember that Wikipedia is not considered a scholarly source. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Week 4 Assignment – Social Contract Position Essay Details: Review “Breaking the Old Social Contract” on page 70 in Health Policy Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Approach and write a paper of 500?750 words reflecting on this new social contract. If you were to think about a new social contract, what would it be? Think in terms of two contracts: one between the citizenry and the state, and one between the professionals and the health care system. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Week 5 Assignment – Health Reform Plan Paper Details: Write a research paper of 500?750 words on the following: 1. Why did the Clinton Health Reform Plan in the 1990s never pass? 2. Discuss three changes that would make the healthcare act better. 3. A minimum of three scholarly sources must be cited. Remember that Wikipedia is not considered a scholarly source. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Week 6 Assignment – Health Care Access Paper Details: Search for proposal(s) by your state governor to deal with a health care access problem and write a paper of 1,250?1,500 words on the following: 1. Outline the elements of the current program and the governor’s proposals for improved access. 2. A minimum of three scholarly sources must be cited. Remember that Wikipedia is not considered a scholarly source. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.
