COURSE NAME

Health Policy and Health Systems PBH 358D (55415)

FACULTY
OFFICE
Hours
e-mail

Rick Nauert PhD, MHA, MHF, PT

BIO 313
Tu/Th 11-2
nauert@austin.utexas.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Health Policy and Health Systems covers the essentials of health policy and law in the
United States and compares the health care financing and delivery system in this country to those
of other developed nations. Students will learn the history of health-related legislation in the
United States and investigate why this nation, unlike others, developed an employment-based
health care financing system based on an insurance model rather than a publicly funded universal
health system. The way in which major political forces have determined the structure of the US
health care system will be reviewed including an analysis of issues related to cost, quality and
access. The evolution of the American health care system will be reviewed from a 20 th century
framework including discussion on the need for significant health reform in the 21 st century. The
Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be discussed from this context. Importantly, students will learn
the organization and delivery of health services across the health care spectrum and be able to
debate emerging issues including rationing of care, end-of-life issues and other difficult decisions
that will have to be resolved.
PREREQUISITIES
Introduction to Public Health with a grade of at least B for public health majors; upper division
standing for sociology majors.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course, the student will have the ability to:
1. Discuss the ways that policy and legal issues impact health care and public health systems.
2. Compare the various sectors of the health service delivery system, including acute care, long
term care, outpatient/ambulatory care, mental health services, managed care, and alternative
delivery systems.
3. Analyze both business practice and health care delivery in terms of process and outcomes
assessment. Understand the current conflicts and challenges faced by the American Healthcare
system in terms of cost, access and quality.
4. Discuss the political, social, and economic factors which have produced the current system of
delivering health services in the United States.
5. Debate the scope of issues surrounding Health Care reform and the ACA.
6. Understand current reimbursement methodologies and be knowledgeable on trends for
payment reform

Grading
Your grade will be a composite of 3 exams, a fourth exam with the option of
replacing the exam with a paper, and a class participation component which
includes attendance, class participation and a group presentation.
The grade breakdown is as follows:
Points
1) 1st exam 100
2) 2nd exam 100
3) 3rd exam 100
4) Final exam/Paper 100
5) Class Participation.
50
The exams will cover material that is in the readings and material that is
presented in class (e.g., lectures, videos, etc.). The exams may consist of
short answer, essay and/or multiple choice questions.
Students have the option of writing a paper in the place of the Final exam.
The Class Participation Grade includes:
15 points for attendance 6 absences allowed
15 points class participation
20 points group participation
Class attendance will be assessed daily Make sure to sign in every day.

Overall, then, your final course grade will be based on a 450-point grading
scale. The specific scale is as follows:
417-450 =
405-416 =
391-404 =
373-390 =
360-372 =
345-359 =
327-344 =
315-326 =
300-314 =
282-299 =
270-281 =
<270 = F

A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
D-

Course Policies
Note on Academic Honesty/Dishonesty:
The core values of the University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery,
freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member
of the University is expected to uphold these values through integrity,
honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

Make-Up Exams
Students are expected to attend class and to take exams on the scheduled
days. However, if a student has an excused absence the student will be
allowed to make up the exam within a reasonable time.

Note on Accommodations for Religious Holidays:

By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least 14
days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss
a class or an examination in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be
given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time
after the absence.

Note on Accommodations for Students with

Disabilities:
Students may request appropriate academic accommodations from the
Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with
Disabilities, by contacting them at 471-6259 or
www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/

Note on Use of Electronic Equipment and

Newspapers in Class:
To promote the most effective and least distracting learning environment in
this class, all electronic equipment including laptops, cell phones, I-Pads, IPods, and any others must be silenced and stored throughout each class
period. All newspapers and magazines must also be stored throughout each
class period. On occasion, laptops will be allowed to review journal articles
and or discuss items posted to Blackboard.

Note on Attendance, Tardiness, and Leaving Early:

Regular attendance in class is very strongly encouraged; this is reflected in
the grading
policy outlined above. To promote the most effective and least distracting
learning
environment in this class, students are very strongly encouraged to come to
class on time. If you must be late, please enter quietly and do not disturb the
other students or instructor.
Early departures from class are discouraged as departures are disruptive to
the instructor and to other students. If you must leave class early, please
mention this to the instructor before the class begins and sit near the door
that day.

Canvas
In this class I use Canvasa Web-based course management system with
password-protected access at http://courses.utexas.edu to distribute
course materials, to communicate and collaborate online, to post grades, to
submit assignments, and to give you online quizzes and surveys. You can
find support in using Blackboard at the ITS Help Desk at 475-9400, Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., so plan accordingly.

TEXTBOOKS:
REQUIRED:

Shi, Leiyu; and Singh, Douglas A. (2012). Delivering Health Care in America; A
Systems Approach (5th Ed.). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett, Publishers

Supplemental:

Journal article reviews will be a major source of information in this class. Pdf and urls
will be posted on Canvas. Additional material will include powerpoints and other sources
of literature. Example: Information from the websites of policy leaders such as Henry
Kaiser Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund. Podcasts and DVD presentations will
also be provided to the class (Front Line Sick across the World; Escape Fire: The Fight to
Rescue American Healthcare)
Course outline

Date

Topic

Assignment

1.20.
15
1.22.
15
1.27.
15
1.29.
15
2.3.1
5
2.5.1
5
2.10.
15
2.12.
15
2.17.
15
2.19.
15
2.24.
15
2.26.
15
3.3.1
5
3.5.1
5
3.10.
15
3.12.
15
3.17.
15
3.19.

Class Intro. -- Online Policy

Sources, etc.; Current
HealthCare Affairs
Current Affairs, Beliefs-Values
American Health Care
System- A Distinctive System
of Health Care Delivery;
Comparison to other
Countries Around the World
Frontline Sick Around the
World
Frontline Sick Around the
World
Affordable Care Act

Canvas Link
Canvas Links,
CH2
S&S Preface,
CH 1
Canvas Links
online podcast
S&S CH 3
ppts, links

Affordable Care Act

ppts, links

Review

ppts, handout

EXAM 1
Escape Fire
Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare Professionals,
Health Policy
Medical Technology
Medical Technology, Health
Policy
Finance, Part 1
EXAM 2
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK

DVD
S&S CH4
S&S CH4, links,
articles
S&S CH 5,
journal articles
S&S CH 5,
journal articles
S&S CH 6

15
3.24.
15
3.26.
15
3.31.
15
4.2.1
5
4.7.1
5
4.9.1
5
4.14.
15
4.16.
15
4.21.
15
4.23.
15
4.28.
15
4.30.
15
5.5.1
5
5.7.1
5
5.19.
14

Finance, Part 2
Finance, Part 2, Out-Patient,
Health Policy
Out-Patient- Primary Care
Out-Patient- Primary Care
In-Patient(Hospital), Health
Policy
In-Patient; Health Policy

S&S CH 6 links,
articles
S&S CH 6, CH 7
links, articles
S&S CH 7 links,
articles
S&S CH7 links,
articles
S&S CH8 links,
articles
S&S CH 8 links,
articles

EXAM 3
Managed Care
Long-Term Care, Health Policy

S&S CH 9 links,
articles
S&S CH 10

Special Populations

S&S CH 11

Cost, Access, Quality; Health

Policy
Cost, Access, Quality; Health
Policy
Health Policy

S&S CH 12
links, articles
S&S CH 12, 13

Future of Health Services

Delivery; Health Policy
EXAM 4 (TUES) FINAL 2-5:00
pm

Faculty contact information

Rick Nauert PhD, MHA, MHF, PT
nauert@austin.utexas.edu
BIO 313

S&S CH 13
links, articles
S&S CH 14
links, articles

Office Hours: 11-2 TTH