HP4E2E Half Unit
Paying for Healthcare
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Elias Mossialos COW 2.12 and Prof Andrew Street COW 1.02
Availability
This course is compulsory on the Executive MSc in Health Economics and Policy (LSE and Chicago). This course is not available as an outside option.
Course content
This course aims to introduce students to a comparative approach to analysing the development of health care financing, both in theory and in practice, with an emphasis on critical assessment of current and future policy options and issues. It focuses on the health financing functions of collecting revenue, pooling funds and purchasing services, as well as on policy choices concerning coverage, resource allocation and market structure. The course mainly draws on examples from health financing policy in developed countries, given these systems are the most advanced, have extensive readily available literature, and are based on best practice principles. However, healthcare system financing in developing countries will also be discussed, albeit to a lesser extent.
Teaching
15 hours of lectures and 6 hours of seminars in the MT.
In addition, students will be given the option to participate in a webinar hosted at least 10 days before the due date of the take-home assessment.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the MT.
Students will be provided with an option to complete a practise essay (up to 1,000 words), with topics provided by the lecturer. The essay will be reviewed by a faculty member and comments will be provided to students to assist them in their final essay.
Indicative reading
WHO, World Health Report 2010 - Health systems financing: the path to universal coverage (2010)
E Mossialos, A Dixon, J Figueras & J Kutzin (eds), Funding health care: options for Europe, Open University Press (2002)
T Rice, The economics of health reconsidered, Health Administration Press (3nd edn, 2009)
JS Skinner, A Chandra, DC Goodman, ES Fisher. The elusive connection between health care spending and quality. Health Affairs 2009;28(1):w119–23
PC Smith, E Mossialos, I Papanicolas, S Leatherman (eds). Performance Measurement for Health System Improvement: Experiences, Challenges and Prospects. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010
Assessment
Take-home assessment (100%) in the LT.
The assessment is a take-home assessment. It will outline six topics covering the course content. Students will be required to complete two of the six topics, which will need to be at least 1,500 words in length.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Health Policy
Total students 2019/20: Unavailable
Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable
Controlled access 2019/20: No
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Specialist skills
