GOVT 220 - The Politics of Healthcare

Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0

Prerequisite(s): GOVT 110 OR with permission of the instructor

Restriction(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

This Service-Learning course examines the political complexities of the American healthcare system. Although the main focus of the class is the United States, students will also examine numerous European heath care systems. Doing so will allow each student to scrutinize the strengths and weaknesses found in each of the national health systems examined.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course: At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:

Discuss the consequences of government action and inaction on social policies and the potential functions of social policy activity for the larger society.
Develop skills essential to the policy making process such as: research, analysis, writing, planning, and interaction skills.
Examine the role of service providers as they relate to policy making and policy implementation.
Identify the structures and institutions of the US federal government - the Legislative, Executive, Judicial, & Bureaucratic - influencing healthcare policymaking; Describe the basic features of the federal healthcare policymaking environment;
Identify core policymaking processes and ways in which the healthcare policymaking process is unique;
Identify key influences/stakeholders in the healthcare policymaking process, including: views of elected public officials and other policymakers; public opinion; political parties and elections; and the specific views, strategies and influence of key healthcare interest groups;
Identify and discuss problems and policy issues in selected policy areas;
Identify the various determinants of access to care for low-income and vulnerable populations
Outline key issues, options, and challenges facing policymakers today in those selected policy areas;
Identify and compare tools and methods for improving performance assessment and healthcare system design;