Instruction
The Economics of Healthcare
Healthcare economics is a branch of economics concerned with issues related to scarcity in the allocation of health and health care.
Evaluate the current policy debate of healthcare reform (Obama- Care and other alternatives). What are the major implications of private vs. public healthcare? What are the microeconomic and macroeconomic aspects of healthcare reform? Should reform address current private and public (Medicare, Medicaid, VA) systems or introduce a new public system? What are the advantages/disadvantages of the proposed solutions?
When considering healthcare, how is supply and demand defined? Identify the consumers and producers for this industry. What is driving the increase in healthcare costs? Consider costs for medical care, drugs and drugs companies, research and development, insurance premiums, medical technology, physicians/specialists, life expectancy, demographics, access, etc.