Healthcare Policy Development & Regulations

PREREQUISITE:  None

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The following represents the course competencies for this class.  Competencies are equivalent for all lecture and distance learning courses. Following each competency is the assignment used to gain mastery of this area of study.

This course introduces Master of Healthcare Administration students to the United States health care system, both public and private sector. Students will examine the structure of the health system, current topics in health care reform, the policy process, and advocacy impacting healthcare delivery. A variety of crucial topics are addressed including current issues for policymakers, an aging population, an opioid crisis, key problems of healthcare costs, access and quality through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans Health Administration, the ethical and cost implications of healthcare technology, regulations addressing cost containment, consumer protection, payment and delivery system reform, and patient access, health and safety. Other topics will be covered if time permits.

AQUIRED SKILLS:

• Analytic Skills
• Analysis Skills
• Evaluation Skills

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:

• Defining key terms, concepts, and functions of healthcare policy development and regulations.
• Analyzing healthcare policy through a historic perspective.
• Identifying the stakeholders in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding the role and impact of the state and federal government on healthcare policy management and regulations.
• Characterizing the challenges facing the American Health System.
• Describing the impact of healthcare reform in the United States.
• Applying knowledge of healthcare policy development and regulations, and regulators to ensure patient access to care.
• Critiquing and analyzing regulations aimed at reforming the healthcare payment and delivery system.
• Describing the impact of healthcare provider payments based on quality initiatives.
• Utilizing policymakers to establish and evaluate healthcare quality and analysis of performance.
• Explaining healthcare quality control through licensure and accreditation.
• Evaluating the effects of social detriments on healthcare.
• Utilizing healthcare regulations and regulators for cost containment.
• Understanding the evolution of public health in the United States.
• Demonstrating how students leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and interpret data in the healthcare policy development and regulations environment.