4860 (v.5) Health Economics 584

Area:

School of Public Health

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

3.0

Lecture:

1 x 3 Hours Weekly

Syllabus:

The economic concepts of scarcity, opportunity cost, the margin, discounting, production functions, utility and demand. Efficiency and equity. Principles of economic evaluation in health care. Classification and measurement of costs and benefits. Financial arrangements for health services. Health insurance. Cost containment in health care.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit, students will have- Reviewed the basic concepts of economic theory. Explored the determinants of a market price through the interaction of demand and supply. Considered how market for health care differs from most other markets and the effect this has on the public and private funding of health systems. Reviewed economic aspects relating to policy initiatives and reforms taking place in the health system in Australia and elsewhere. Examined alternative methods of economic evaluation and learnt how to critically assess an economic evaluation study. Explored how economic principles can be used in resource allocation in the health sector.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

Bloom, A.L. (ed.) (2000), Health reform in Australia and New Zealand. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Clewer, A. and Perkins, D. (1998), Economics for health care management. London, Prentice Hall. Drummond, M.F., O'Brien, B., Stoddart, G.L. and Torrance, G.W. (1997), Methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes (second edition). Oxford, Oxford University Press. Getzen, T.E. (1997), Health economics: fundamentals and flow of funds. New York, John Wiley and Sons. Leeder, S.R. (1999), Healthy medicine: challenges facing Australia's health services. Sydney, Allen and Unwin. Mooney, G. (1992), Economics and health care (second edition). New York, Harvester Wheatsheaf. Mooney, G. (1994), Key issues in health economics. New York, Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Unit Texts:

Mooney, G. and Scotton, R. (1999), Economics and Australian health policy. Sydney, Allen and Unwin.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Assignment 1 25%, Assignment 2 25%, Final examination 35%, Group work 15%. This is by grade/mark assessment.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 2	Y		Y