POLS 209 Health Policy

Why does the United States spend more on health care per person than other developed countries and still have worse health outcomes?  American health care costs (including drug prices) are higher and we have a much greater use of expensive medical technology than in other countries.  This course will examine the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to health care delivery and financing, including private, single-payer and universal systems.  Students will analyze the impact of these approaches on access, cost, quality, and disparities.  They will also examine the historical, economic, social, and political factors that have led the U.S. to adopt its current health system, how care is delivered (hospital, community clinic, Veterans Administration), analyze its strengths and weaknesses, and examine the different proposals for reforming it.