The Law and Policy of Health Insurance Reform (LAW-719J-001)
Joel Michaels
Meets: (Cancelled) - Capital - Room C217
Enrolled: / Limit:
Notices
Meets from 6/12-6/15. Students may earn academic credit for up to two credits per week in the summer semester (excluding full semester courses). This course counts toward the two credit per week limit. To register, email registrationservices@wcl.american.edu.
Description
This course will review the law and recent policy changes relating to the challenge of providing affordable health insurance coverage in the U.S. The course will focus on three key principles of health care reform: (1) providing access to health care coverage; (2) changes in provider payment systems that impact health care costs; and (3) consumer responsibility in managing the costs of health care coverage. The class will analyze the commercial health insurance markets (both individual and employer group insurance) with a particular focus on the impact of the Affordable Care Act and any subsequent changes made to modify, repeal, and/or replace this federal law. The course will summarize the various strategies that have been implemented or proposed to expand access to health care coverage, and the associated challenges from a legal and policy perspective. Students will also review government programs that engage health insurers to provide coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, including the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Programs as well as State Medicaid Programs that engage contractors to provide coverage to lower income populations. Evolving changes in policy and law related to provider payment innovations focused on quality outcomes and cost efficiencies. Finally, the role of the insured as a consumer of health care services will be explored, including a discussion of what consumers need to know about providers, health care costs, and quality outcomes and why these are considerations that matter to the consumer in a changing health reform environment.
Textbooks and Other Materials
The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.
This course will not use a textbook. Instead, required readings will be listed in the course syllabus. Required readings will include pertinent articles, cases, government enforcement guidance, and the like. Required readings will be accessible through on-line resources or will be posted to MyWCL.
First Class Readings
As explained in greater detail in the syllabus, students must complete certain reading assignments in advance of class.
Syllabus
Use your MyAU username and password to access the syllabus in the following format(s):
Microsoft Word 2007 (DOCX)