Topics in Health Financing

ECON31102 Topics in Health Financing 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 3 Laura Anselmi Unit coordinator Economics 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 The unit aims to provide the students with a theoretical and empirical understanding of how health services are funded around the world, with an emphasis on how resources are generated, pooled and distributed to purchase different services. The unit will provide students with the knowledge required to examine and assess different policy option, the trade-offs that they may generate, the implications for efficiency and equity. Each lecture will provide theoretical elements and applied examples from diverse settings which will illustrate a variety of approaches and applied micro-econometric methods used tin empirical analysis.   The unit combines classroom teaching with guided self-study.  The unit aims to provide the students with a theoretical and empirical understanding of how health services are funded around the world, with an emphasis on how resources are generated, pooled and distributed to purchase different services. The unit will provide students with the knowledge required to examine and assess different policy option, the trade-offs that they may generate, the implications for efficiency and equity. Each lecture will provide theoretical elements and applied examples from diverse settings which will illustrate a variety of approaches and applied micro-econometric methods used tin empirical analysis.   The unit combines classroom teaching with guided self-study.  The unit aims to:  Provide the students with a theoretical and empirical understanding of how health services are funded around the world, with an emphasis on how resources are generated, pooled and distributed to purchase different servicesProvide students with the knowledge required to examine and assess different policy option, the trade-offs that they may generate, the implications for efficiency and equity Acquire a framework for understanding and analysing health financing and related trade-offs Understand ways of funding health and how they vary across high as well as middle– and low-income countries Familiarise with methods for empirical analysis Critically evaluate health systems options given a particular context and taking into account societal constraintsAble to read, understand and critically appraise research in the area of health financing  Gather, analyse and interpret information on health financing relating to a particular country context Relate economic concepts to real world policy issues  Present arguments for different audiences including academic and policy   Other Knowledge and skills acquired relating to the economic theory, empirical evidence regarding different health financing setups, and awareness of the principal policy issues arising from health financing will put students in a good position to undertake further studies in this area. They will also be able to apply this knowledge in professional roles in civil service, healthcare trusts, private healthcare providers and insurers. They would have also gathered specialist knowledge and skills which will be useful in related public service positions. The course is structured around an initial understanding of health financing functions in the first half of the course, including revenue generation, resource pooling and distribution and service purchasing. In the second half the focus will be on specific topics of policy relevance. For each lecture key readings will include one book chapter and two applied papers (preferably one on a low or middle-income and one on a high-income country). Applied papers will also illustrate methods used for empirical analysis allowing students to familiarise with them. 1 – Health systems and public finance – flow of funding and health financing functions2 – Revenue collection: taxation, insurance and out of pocket payments3 –Health insurance (including National Health Insurance)5 – Resource allocation: Formula funding of public services  6 – Regional variation in healthcare  7 – Provider payments  8 – Assessing equity and efficiency9 – Human resources  10 – Public Health and Social Care   Synchronous activities (Lectures and tutorials), and guided self-study.  Each lecture will provide theoretical elements and applied examples from diverse settings which will illustrate a variety of approaches and applied micro-econometric methods used in empirical work.  Tutorials will consist of exercises and small-groups discussions around empirical applications of the concepts learnt during the lectures and will represent opportunities for clarifying and strengthening the understanding as well as broadening the knowledge of applications.Students are expected to read additional material (provided through the virtual learning environment) and undertake guided research outside contact time.  0 Other 100% 30% Group Coursework (country case study) - 1500 words and short presentation70% Final Exam - 2h Tutorial discussionWritten feedback on assessmentGroup-level feedback ECON10232 Microeconomics 2 Pre-Requisite Compulsory ECON20232 Microeconomics 2 Pre-Requisite Compulsory ECON10172 Principles of Microeconomic Theory 2: Markets, Prices and Strategy Pre-Requisite Compulsory ECON20110 Econometrics Pre-Requisite Compulsory ECON20222 Quantitative Methods Pre-Requisite Compulsory (ECON10232 OR ECON20232 OR ECON10172) AND (ECON20110 AND ECON20222) Y Textbook chapters from:  Glied, S., and P. C. Smith (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Health Economics (online edn, 2012) Oxford Academic,  https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199238828.001.0001, (not currently available through the Library)  Culyer, AJ and J P. Newhouse (eds), Handbook of Health Economics, vol1  Pauly, MV, T G. Mcguire P P. Barros (eds), Handbook of Health Economics, vol2Accessible online https://www.sciencedirect.com/handbook/handbook-of-health-economics/volumesBorghi, Josephine, Maceira, Daniel, Prinja, Shankar and Wiseman, Virginia (2025) Health Financing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Path to Universal Health Coverage, De Gruyter, 2025. (not currently available through the Library – forthcoming - available online open access https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/isbn/9783111128238/html?lang=en&srsltid=AfmBOopCj0t5dBiVSgKnesBb29n0QuWtQtzIqOY0ovfjnFiAvqo0osYf  )  Morris, 2. Et al. (2012) Economic Analysis in Healthcare, 2nd ed (available online through library)  Topic specific additional reading from journals or freely available online resources (reports, blogs)  Lectures 20 Tutorials 10 0 170