ECON3011
10 units
3000 level
Course handbook
Description
Health Economics is the application of economic principles to health and health care. Students apply core concepts of supply and demand theories to health and healthcare examples and learn about the importance of information (and information asymmetry) in healthcare markets; the crucial role of insurance; hospital financing and delivery; and private/public mix in finance and provision of healthcare. In this course students are introduced to key conceptual frameworks of health economics and decision making and examine how Australian and international healthcare systems are designed and organised, including the critical components of long-term care and pharmaceutical markets.
Availability2024 Course Timetables
Online
- Semester 2 - 2024
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Apply knowledge of relevant economic concepts to the healthcare industry and healthcare provision.
2. Identify the key economic trade-offs involved in different healthcare allocation decisions and analyse the implications for payers, providers and consumers.
3. Examine the economic rationale associated with trends in health system development.
4. Evaluate the effects of a health policy or intervention.
5. Appraise health economics/policies and apply them to address specific types of market failure.
6. Apply analytical skills to interpret and synthesise data from a variety of sources and communicate information effectively individually and in groups.
Content
Topics will include:
- Essential microeconomics toolkit
- Health economics and finance: what is special about health
- Demand for health and healthcare
- Health capital demand and the demand for health
- Supply of health and health care
- Health care, long term financing in insurance design
- Demand and supply for health insurance
- Regulated competition and social insurance
- Health financing and payment
- Public and private mix: cross country comparison
- Health technology assessment and economics evaluation
- Beginners guide to budget impact analysis
- Value based healthcare and behavioural economics
- Introduction to public health: socioeconomic inequalities and equity and efficiency trade-off
- Public health issues and policy reform
- Epidemiology for health economics
- Introduction to healthcare expenditure modelling
Assessment items
Written Assignment: Problem Based Learning Assignment
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.
Written Assignment: Critique Report
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.
Written Assignment: Policy Evaluation
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.
Contact hours
Semester 2 - 2024 - Online
Workshop-1
- Online 3 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
Course outline
Course outline not yet available.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.