There will be homework assignments most weeks and quizzes approximately every other week. Late homework assignments are accepted until Friday, May 3 at noon.
Homework 1:
(due February 6)
Write a one to two page essay (600-1200 words) briefly explaining what is a right and why health care is sometimes considered a right. Most of this essay should be objective, but include a paragraph or so giving your own opinion.
Homework 2:
(due February 13) worksheet here.
Homework 3:
(Due February 20)
Read: Wilbur J. Cohen and Milton Friedman. Social Security: Universal or Selective?. American enterprise institute for public research, 1972.
on youtube or in print
and
DeWitt, Larry. “Research Note #25: Ponzi Schemes vs. Social Security.” Historians Office, Social Security Administration.
Also look up Cohen and Friedman on wikipedia for a brief biography.
Answer based on readings:
Why are Wilbur Cohen and Milton Friedman useful sources for discussing social security (in 2-4 sentences each)?
What are 3 pros of Social Security according to Cohen and 3 pros according to Friedman?
What are Friedman’s main criticisms of Social Security (in 1 or 2 paragraphs)?
How does Cohen respond (in 1 paragraph)?
Also answer:
Which pats of each argument do you agree with? Is social security bad? Is it a ponzi scheme (1 or 2 paragraphs)?
Homework 4:
(due March 6)
Read: Quadagno, Jill. “Why the United States has no national health insurance: Stakeholder mobilization against the welfare state, 1945-1996.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior (2004): 25-44.
Answer the following questions; your responses should total one to two pages (600-1200 words) in length.
a) What is the point of the paper? Is there a question the paper is trying to answer?
b) What is the paper’s methodology? Is the paper theoretical, empirical, a meta-analysis, a case study, or something else?
c) What is the data of the paper? What set of information is the paper using to draw its conclusions? How generalizable is this information?
d) What is the paper’s conclusion? Are any robustness checks or sensitivity analyses used? Does this conclusion overlook anything; how would you criticize this conclusion?
e) What effect might this paper have on other papers, the field, or society? What additional questions might future researchers ask to build upon this paper?
Homework 5:
(due March 13)
Watch: Randomized evaluations & the power of evidence | Amy Finkelstein | TEDxPennsylvaniaAvenue and The RAND Health Insurance Experiment: A Retrospective at 40 Years. Answer these eight questions (one or two sentences each):
RAND:
What was the basic question the RAND experiment was meant to solve (time in youtube video where the answer can be found – 1:30-2:00)
What are the main results of the experiment for utilization? For health? (10:00-12:00)
What are negative value services? (11:30-12:30)
Oregon:
What is a Randomized Evaluation? (2:00-3:00)
What was the effect of Medicaid on doctor visits? (5:00-6:30)
What was the effect of Medicaid on ER use (7:30-8:00)?
Both:
What were the main results in common between the two experiments?
Were there any major differences in the results between the two?
Homework 6:
(due March 14)
Meet with me to discuss your paper topic before break. You can sign up for a time here. Please let me know if none of the available times works for you.
Homework 7:
(due April 3)
Read: Obama, Barack. “United States health care reform: progress to date and next steps.” Jama 316, no. 5 (2016): 525-532.
Answer the following questions; your responses should total one to two pages (600-1200 words) in length.
a) What is the point of the paper? Is there a question the paper is trying to answer?
b) What is the paper’s methodology? Is the paper theoretical, empirical, a meta-analysis, a case study, or something else?
c) What is the data of the paper? What set of information is the paper using to draw its conclusions? How generalizable is this information?
d) What is the paper’s conclusion? Are any robustness checks or sensitivity analyses used? Does this conclusion overlook anything; how would you criticize this conclusion?
e) What effect might this paper have on other papers, the field, or society? What additional questions might future researchers ask to build upon this paper?
Quiz 5: April 8
Readings: Choose one or two available readings from day’s reading list at this link. If you choose a reading less than 6 pages in length, you must choose a second reading also less than 6 pages in length. If you choose a reading greater than 6 pages, do not write your name next to a second reading. Once you’ve chosen your reading, write your name under student 1 or student 2. If two other students have already chosen a reading, you must choose a different reading. There will be homework assignment associated with this reading as well. Most quizzes have been unannounced, but participation this week will be worth quiz credit.
Homework 8: Due April 10
Attend and participate in the discussion on April 8 and complete the below questions for the reading(s) you chose from the above list. In your response, think about how your paper presents evidence that would exclude other explanations. That is, in what way does the evidence of your paper not only imply that its conclusion is true, but that other conclusions might not be true. You should bring your response or notes to class on April 8 although as homework it is not due until the 10th. For the 10th, answer the following questions; your responses should total one to two pages (600-1200 words) in length.
a) What is the point of the paper? Is there a question the paper is trying to answer?
b) What is the paper’s methodology? Is the paper theoretical, empirical, a meta-analysis, a case study, or something else?
c) What is the data of the paper? What set of information is the paper using to draw its conclusions? How generalizable is this information?
d) What is the paper’s conclusion? Are any robustness checks or sensitivity analyses used? Does this conclusion overlook anything; how would you criticize this conclusion?
e) What effect might this paper have on other papers, the field, or society? What additional questions might future researchers ask to build upon this paper?
Homework 9: Due April 17
Read: Rosenthal, Elisabeth. “Those indecipherable medical bills? They’re one reason health care costs so much hospitals have learned to manipulate medical codes—Often resulting in mind-boggling bills.” New York Times Magazine (2017).
Answer the Following questions. The first two should be answered briefly, while the second two may need a couple paragraphs each. Your response should be one or two pages (600-1200 words) in length).
a) What does the article suggest an uninsured patient do to fight high health costs after (or before) an extended hospital stay?
b) Why does the article suggest hospitals charge such high costs for uninsured patients?
c) What do you think hospitals could do to deal with these problems?
d) What government regulations or policies do you think could help deal with these problems?
Homework 10: Due April 29
Read one selection from either the Democratic reform plans or the Republican reform plans. Answer the following questions:
a) What “slogan” or simple statement of principles could be said to form a basis of the plan?
b) What incentives if any does the plan create for key agents (payers, providers, patients)?
c) What is the main role of government in the plan?
d) Give one or two reasons why the plan might increase total health care expenditures. Give one or two reasons why the plan might decrease total health care expenditures.
e) What effect do the plan’s supporters believe the plan would have on the following: uninsured rate? healthcare cost? healthcare quality?
f) What do you think the effect of the plan will be on those outcomes: uninsured rate? healthcare cost? healthcare quality?