Slides Intro to Health Care Fall 2024

Introduction to the American Health Care System

  • Overview of the course: PHTH 1260 by Deborah Milbauer, Northeastern University

  • Importance of understanding the complexities of the U.S. health care system.

Course Schedule and Assignments

Course Schedule

  • Healthcare in the News: Weekly updates presented by students.

    • Content focuses on current events affecting health care.

Assignments and Participation

  • Grading breakdown includes Participation (10%), Healthcare in the News presentations (10%), Discussion Boards (10%), Interview Activity (10%), Podcast Activity (10%), Research Presentation (15%), Midterm (20%), and Final (1%).

Understanding Health Care in the U.S.

Daily Health Care Briefings

  • Engages students with current health care issues and literature.

Critical Readings

  • Discuss health care as a basic human right and compare the quality of the U.S. health care system with other countries.

  • Examine various health care reform models.

Cost Sharing in Health Care

  • Patient Costs:

    • Co-insurance: Shared payment model (e.g., 20% patient/80% employer).

    • Premiums: Generally required monthly payments for insurance.

    • Co-pays: Fixed payments for services depending on the type of care.

    • Deductibles: Annual payments before insurance coverage begins.

  • Variability in Health Plans: Range from minimal coverage to extensive plans exceeding $20,000.

Determinants of Health

  • Key Factors:

    • Genes & Biology, Clinical Care, Health Behaviors, Social and Economic Factors, Physical Environment.

  • Social Determinants:

    • Education, Income, Race/Ethnicity, Immigration Status, Gender, and more.

Health Policy Insights

  • Healthcare as a human right; implications based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25).

  • Critical discussion on why health care should be prioritized and how it impacts the economy, politics, and societal ethics.

Challenges in U.S. Healthcare System

Issues Identified

  1. Cost: Rising health care costs versus wages.

  2. Quality: Variability in health care outcomes and patient experiences.

  3. Access: Barriers to care depending on insurance status, income, and geographic location.

  4. Health Insurance Gaps: Number of uninsured and underinsured individuals.

Health Care Reform Perspectives

The Triple Aim of Health Care Reform

  • Goals to improve:

    • Individual and provider experience of care.

    • Health outcomes for populations.

    • Cost-effectiveness in healthcare provision.

Paradox of Healthcare in the U.S.

  • Despite having advanced technology and treatments, the U.S. faces inefficiencies in cost, accessibility, and health outcomes.

Justice in Healthcare Economics

  • Market Justice vs. Social Justice:

    • Market view: Access based on ability to pay.

    • Social view: Health care as a basic right and collective responsibility.

Conclusion

  • The U.S. health care system is characterized by its complexity, high costs, and ongoing debates about coverage, quality, and access which fundamentally affects societal well-being.