Week 1 Discussion Questions for 3/20/2020

​History of Health Policy

• Summarize the historic events that have shaped US health policy (Dr. Adhatamsoontra)

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Introduction and Overview of the US Healthcare System

• What percentage of US healthcare comes from private sources versus public sources? (Dr. Andrews)
• What are sources of waste within the US healthcare system? (Dr. Anyanwu)

 
Federal Government Process and Spending

• What are the steps to a bill becoming a law? (Dr. Avakame)
• What are the main areas of spending for the federal government? What percentage goes towards healthcare? (Dr. Choi)
• Summarize the federal budget process (Dr. Ciarloni)

 
Insurance

• Define the following terms: premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance, cost sharing. (Dr. Covas)
• Medicare: What does Medicare Part A cover? Part B? Part C? Part D? How is Medicare financed? (Dr. Duncan)
• Medicaid: Who is covered under Medicaid? What are mandatory services covered under Medicaid? How is Medicaid financed? (Dr. Epling)
• Who are dual-eligibles? (Dr. Hammond-Jack)

 
ACA: 10 Years Later

• Describe the key components of the ACA and discuss the major events in the design, implementation, and attempted repeal of this law. (Dr. Ishola)
• Which groups remain uninsured after the ACA? (Dr. Jones)
• How has the ACA impacted health outcomes? (Dr. Kotler)

 
Health Reform

• Compare and contrast Medicare for All, Single Payer, and the Public Option. (Dr. Moyer)

Week 2 discussion questions for 3/27/2020

Health Economics (Dr. Kanakamedala)

• What unique factors shape the price of health care compared to other goods and services? 
• Which of the dozen facts in the Brookings piece did you find most surprising?
• What accounts for the wide variation in healthcare expenditures across individuals in the US?

Payment and Payment Reform (Dr. Nichols)

• How does hospital payment differ from physician/provider payment? 
• How do you think you should be paid for the care you provide as a physician? Consider the benefits and risks of traditional “Fee For Service” vs “Pay for Performance” initiatives. 
• What is the Relative Update Committee and is it necessary?

State Health Policy (Dr. Punnoose)

• What are the pros and cons of state autonomy in regulating health? 
• How can state innovation achieve the triple aim: better quality of care, lower costs, and improved population health? Cite examples. 

Health Law (Dr. Quinn)

• Tort Law: (1) What four elements must an injured patient prove to be successful in a medical malpractice claim? (2) What kind of damages may be awarded in such a case? 
• What is EMTALA and why is it so important?
• What are the consequences of politicizing Federal courts? Should judges have term limits?

Primary Care and Prevention (Dr. Raythatha)

• Do you have a primary care doctor? Do you need one?
• Should physicians be incentivized to practice primary care?
• What role should retail clinics play in primary care provision? 

week 3 discussion questions for 4/3/2020

Comparative Health Systems (Dr. Ryan Lee)

• What health spending lessons can the US learn from other comparable countries? 
• Provide brief health care systems profiles for two countries of your choosing. How do they differ from the US system?

Social Medicine and Health Equity (Dr. Saleh)

• What percentage of overall health is determined by zip code?
• Explain the claim that financing of healthcare in the USA is regressive.
• Describe the levels of racism. 
• Summarize the key findings of “Ranking the Schools”. 

Medical Ethics (Dr. Stablein)

• What forces drive physicians to overtest, overdiagnose, and overtreat? 
• In your opinion, is it appropriate to deny some forms of treatment in end of life care? 
• What’s a QALY? Do QALY-gains justify flattening the COVID-19 curve?

Health Workforce (Dr. Safran) 

• What is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)? What scholarship or loan forgiveness programs are available to health professionals working in HPSAs?
• How does graduate medical education funding shape health workforce distribution?   
• What tensions exist in interprofessional practice? 

Health and the Media (Dr. Tayeb)

• What communication outlets can physician’s leverage for advocacy?
• What elements make an op-ed persuasive? 
• Critique the assigned hearing testimony.