This course aims at introducing economic tools for understanding and analysing the health care sector. Topics that we will investigate in depth include: 

1.    Distinctive economic characteristics of the commodity ' health care'; 

2.    Grossman's model of health capital

3.    Health and health care production functions 

4.    Adverse selection and the Rothschild-Stiglitz model 

5.    Moral hazard in the healthcare sector 

6.    Cost-effectiveness analysis

7.    Cost-benefit analysis

 

We will apply the economics tools to study some of the key players of the healthcare sector, including: Hospitals, Physicians, Health Insurance Companies, and Pharmaceutical Companies. 

 

We will study how government policies help shape the healthcare sector. We will also learn economic methods for evaluating the effects of health care policies.

In addition, students in this course will participate in graduate seminars, where they study and present literature on selected topics of health economics.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. define the determinants of the demand for health care, demand for health insurance and the supply of health, as well as the health and health care production functions;
2. demonstrate a deep understanding of the size and scope and the key players of the health sector;
3. utilize formal intermediate microeconomic analysis to evaluate health economics issues;
4. summarise, analyse and present a selection of academic literature on health economics.

Research-Led Teaching

Classical as well as frontier research topics, methodologies, and outcomes in health economics will be introduced along the way. Students will be able to see how results from the models can be applied to analyse real world questions, and what questions remain to answer. The lecturer will present his own research in health economics, and also discuss with students their questions and thoughts that arise from their experience, observation, and study of this course.

The course materials from the textbook will be the same as those for the co-taught course Econ3004 Health Economics. However, Econ6039 will have a graduate-course component. The lecturer will present published research papers and assign those papers for Econ6039 students to study. There will be tutorials questions built around those papers, and the papers will become a part of the Econ6039 final exam.

Required Resources

“Health Economics”, by Bhattacharya, Hyde, and Tu, Published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book is available for 2hr reserve at the ANU Chifley Library, and the eBook is available at the ANU Library.  The eBook is also available for purchase on the publisher's website.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Ch1. Introduction of Health EconomicsCh2. Demand for health care
2	Ch3. Demand for health: The Grossman model
3	Ch5. The labour market for physicians
4	Ch6. The hospital industry
5	Ch7. Demand for insurance	Wattle online quiz
6	Ch8. Adverse selection: Akerlof’s lemons model
7	Ch9. Adverse selection: the Rothschild-Stiglitz model	Mid-semester Exam
8	Ch11. Moral hazard
9	Ch12. Pharmaceuticals and the economics of innovation
10	Ch14. Health technology assessment: Cost-effectiveness analysis
11	Ch14. Health technology assessment: Cost-benefit analysisHealthcare systems around the world and Healthcare reforms
12	Healthcare systems around the world and Healthcare reforms

Tutorial Registration

TUTORIALS: ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage. https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/timetabling

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Mid-semester Exam	30 %	*	*	1,2,3,4
Final Exam	65 %	*	*	1,2,3,4
Wattle online quiz	5 %	22/08/2023	25/08/2023	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

PARTICIPATION: All the lectures and tutorials will be on campus. Lectures and tutorials will be delivered through a combination of the classroom facilities including slides and whiteboard illustrations. Students are expected to regularly attend lectures and tutorials in person. Subject to the technical feasibility, the lectures will audio and video recorded, and the recordings will be posted on Wattle Echo360.

Examination(s)

See Assessment Tasks above.

Assessment Task 1

Mid-semester Exam

The exam will be 2 hours long, held in Week 7. It will be run on Wattle in the format of Wattle Quiz. It will consist of Multiple Choice Questions and Short Answer Questions. The exams covers course materials taught from Week 1 to Week 5. Further information such as date and time will be announced in lecture by Week 4.

Assessment Task 2

Final Exam

The final exam will be held in the final exam period. The exam will be 3 hours long. It will be made up of Multiple Choice Questions and Short Answer Questions. More details such as the exam coverage will be provided in lecture no later than week 9.

The exam will be held on-campus, and run by the ANU Examinations office.

Assessment Task 3

Wattle online quiz

A quiz in the form of multiple choice questions will be given through Wattle in the format of Wattle Quiz on Tuesday, 22 August (Week 5). The quiz will cover course materials taught from Week 1 to Week 3. It will include 3 questions, to be finished within 20 minutes. The quiz result will be released by 25 August (i.e. prior to Week 6). The final timing of the quiz will be announced no later than Week 3.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students