The concentration in Health Care Management & Insurance Studies prepares students for leadership roles, and analyst/consultant positions, within the health care industry, and provides students with the theoretical and conceptual foundations necessary to apply business skills within this setting. We seek to develop graduate level advanced learning models that will focus on understanding health care within the context of economic, financial and managerial perspectives.
Primary Concentration:
HSMG 5240 (380) and HSMG 5243 (383), plus two other courses listed below
Secondary Concentration:
HSMG 5240 (380) and HSMG 5243 (383), plus one other course listed below
HSMG 5240 (380): Health Care Organization and Management
This course examines the nations healthcare delivery system with overviews provided for each major sector of the health economy. The basic tools of economics and finance are employed to gain critical insights into the structure, conduct and performance of each of these sectors. This course is designed to accommodate both health care industry professionals and individuals from other business areas interested in learning more about the health care industry.
HSMG 5548 (381): Health Care Law and Policy (May be substituted for BLAW 5175 (375)*)
This course examines legal, regulatory and ethical considerations in health care management, and the formation of public policy in the health care setting. Emphasis is on understanding legal principles and issues including administrative and regulatory law; institutional and individual liability in the health care sector; employment law; and torts. Special attention is paid to ethics in health care management and its interrelation to law and public policy.
HSMG 5642 (382): Decision Analysis in Health Care
Prerequisites: FCNE 5101 (301) and HSMG 5243 (383), or consent of instructor.
The course covers methods used by health care managers in making strategic and operating decisions, including (but are not limited to) sales forecasting, product valuation, and cost effectiveness and cost/benefit analyses. Example of potential applications include estimating the value of new drugs under development, the payoff profile from strategic alliances and limited partnerships in different health care industries, the valuation of healthcare mergers and acquisitions, the profitability of different HMO benefit plans, and other ventures pertaining to health care organizations.
HSMG 5243 (383): Health Care Economics (May be substituted for FNCE 5151 (317)*)
Prerequisites: HSMG 5240 (380) and OPIM 5103 (303), or consent of instructor.
This course demonstrates how various economic theories can be used to think about health care issues and takes a macro or industry perspective of various health care problems and policy questions. Students are provided with a set of economic tools to evaluate a theoretical or empirical argument relating to health or medical care. The course culminates with an in-depth analysis of the structure, conduct, and performance of the markets for medical insurance, physician services, hospital services, pharmaceutical products, and long-term care. Health care reform is also discussed.
HSMG 5544 (384): Competitive Strategies for Health Care Organizations
Prerequisite: HSMG 5243 (383), or consent of instructor.
This course focuses on the microeconomic organization of healthcare business units and analyzes various issues central to the individual firm’s short-term and long-term competitive success. Competitive strategies pertaining to various types of healthcare organizations such as physician practices, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and pharmaceutical companies are explored using a wide variety of business tools and methods. Efficient market theory, industry analysis, the boundaries of the firm, principal and agent problems, incentive mechanisms, mergers and acquisitions, the development and sustainability of competitive advantage, and competitive pricing are some of the general topics discussed in the context of the health care sector.
HSMG 5545 (385): Management of Long-Term Health Care Organizations
This course examines administrative processes within the long-term health care facility including issues related to organizational effectiveness, financial management, regulatory structure, operational procedures, policies and practices.
HSMG 5686 (386): Health Insurance & Risk Management
Prerequisites: FNCE 5101 (301), and either FNCE 5151 (317) or HSMG 5243 (383), or consent of instructor.
This course examines health insurance choices from the perspective of individuals, employers, and insurers. A portfolio perspective for individuals' choices is taken. Other topics include: health insurance loss and contingency distributions; health insurance loss reserving; pricing (rate-setting) for health insurance products; LTC insurance; health insurer risk management; health reinsurance structures; health insurance derivatives.
HSMG 387: Employee Benefits
Prerequisites: HSMG 5240 (380) and FNCE 5101 (301), or consent of instructor.
Employers worldwide devote significant dollars and resources to effectively managing employee benefit plans, including health and life insurance, disability insurance and deferred compensation (retirement) plans. The need for effective benefits management intensifies as employers compete to attract and retain employees. This course covers benefit plan design, management tools and techniques for effective risk management as well as regulatory issues shaping the field. Students interested in health care, insurance and retirement and investment planning will find this course informative.
HSMG 5891 (389): Health Care Internship
Under the guidance of a qualified preceptor, students are provided opportunities to study and analyze an organization’s characteristics, functions, goals, strategies, and decision-making processes. Managerial skill is developed through the performance of administrative tasks and through participation in problem-solving processes. A research paper is required.
* Substitutions cannot be applied toward concentration requirements. If these substitutions are used, you will still need 4 primary concentration courses or 3 secondary concentration courses.