MASTER RESOURCE OUTLINE 

Credits: 2 (1 lecture; 1 seminar) 

Semesters offered: F, Sp 

Prerequisites: None 

Course Description

Focus is on economics, public policy and political factors which affect the delivery of health and nursing care at the local, state, national and international levels.  Students are encouraged to participate in efforts to influence health policy. 

Course Objectives:  The student will: 

  1. Analyze the disparities in health care based on economics, social or demographic status. (T11)  
  2. Examine the mechanism of health care financing and their influences on policies.(T 1,13)  
  3. Identify economic, public policy and political factors influencing the delivery of care. (T1)  
  4. Analyze the legislative and regulatory processes as they relate to health policy. (T 3)  
  5. Integrate advocacy skills in the influence of public policy.(T13)  
  6. Describestrategies that nurses can useto create or influence health policy. (T6)  
  7. Students will demonstrate behaviors that are congruent with the MSU Code of Conduct, CON Student Handbook, ANACode of Ethics, Scope and Standards of Practice, and Social Policy Statements in all class related interactioins. (F3-11; T3-6, 8-11) 

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will critique national health care reform proposals using economic and policy criteria  
  2. Students will analyze the components of rising health care expenditures using an economic perspective 
  3. Students will explain how nurses can increase the economic value of nursing practice 
  4. Students will describe how a production function clarifies decisions on achieving better health in society. 

Health Care Reimbursement System

Public and private insurance processes (Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, third-party payers, HMO’s such as Kaiser, Humana), payment mechanisms (capitation, third party payer, DRG’s), relationship between health policy and economics, how insurance works to pay for care (concepts–deductible, co-pays, premiums, etc) , factors impacting the site pools, cost of insurance, decision-making on covered benefits). 

Advocacy

Role of advocate in development of public policy and economics of health care systems, skills set, communication, relationship of professional values to, boundaries (i.e. public safety vs. individual choice) 

Legislative process 

Use of the nurse practice act to demonstrate levels of the legislative process such as statute, rules; strategies to use in the legislative process; analyze the intent of legislation; program development related to rules and statutes. 

Health Care Policy

Relationship to budgeting and program development; program evaluation and cost effectiveness of care to support ongoing programs to the legislature (ex. tobacco fund monies etc); effect of policy on international health 

Delivery of health and nursing care in the Global Community

Global influences (burden of disease) and responses: frameworks for cooperation and/or collaboration; organizations for international health (governmental and non-governmental); humanitarian efforts (Doctors w/o borders); impact of war on health, economy, policy and culture. 

Suggested Student Learning Activities

  • Evaluation of health insurance policy/ies 
  • Cost analysis of health insurance policies 
  • DRG’s implications on a client cared for in clinical setting–lengthof stay vs. client need for care 
  • Select a bill in legislature to follow (including legislative process, writing a letter of testimony, visiting a hearing on that bill or another bill) 
  • Attend a State Board of Nursing meeting 
  • Attend a public hearing on rules and regulations. 
  • Systematically examine the origins of a national health policy and its commensurate impact on patients (e.g., social security, medicare).
  • Track the Internet pages of Montana’s U.S. Senators or Representative to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how legislation is introduced and debated. 
  • Call a member of the Montana State Legislature to discuss a health-related issue. 
  • Track international effects of chronic conditions or disease. 
  • Respond to (Internet) scenarios related to global burden of disease from perspective of women, men and children living in developed/underdeveloped country. 

 

Approved by UAAC: April 20, 2020  

Approved by Faculty: May 11, 2020