Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. Understand health care issues and the challenges of an aging society.

2. Describe key enacted and proposed legislation affecting healthcare services for older adults

3. Identify various methods for structuring and paying for healthcare services for older adults.

4. Examine the social, political and provider response to the corporatization of healthcare.

5. Analyze provider incentives and utilization review approaches used to contain costs.

6. Analyze the relationship between payment structure and cost to consumers, providers and third party payers, including the government.

7. Assess what is known about the relationship between healthcare delivery models and health-related outcomes.

8. Describe how managed care delivery models affect the financing and delivery of long term care.

9. Describe how long term care insurance impacts the delivery of healthcare for older adults.

10. Describe innovative demonstration projects and state models of managing chronic care.

Final Paper

This requires writing an in-depth analysis/state of the art paper of an innovative health care delivery model or system. Some examples may include: TEFRA, Medicare Advantage, IPAs, PACE, Long Term Care Waiver Programs or other innovations that affect the healthcare delivery for older adults. Or, students may select a current issue related to healthcare reform, managed care, quality of care, outcomes research, care coordination, disease management and examine how this area affects the healthcare delivery for older adults.((( I choose Medicare Advantage and I attached the Executive Summary here)))

The paper should be no more than 22 pages, typed, double-spaced in 12-pitch Times Roman font. Leave one inch margins on each side for my comments.

You should address the following in both your midterm and final papers:

1. What is the program or topic that you have selected and why is it important to older adults?

2. What is the legislative history of the program or topic? When did it originate and how has it changed over time?

3. What are the major features/tenets/guiding principles/components of the program or topic?

4. How does the program impact the elderly? Who does it benefit and how? What are the major issues in terms of the concepts discussed in class?

5. What do you see as the future issues that confront this particular area?

6. What changes or modifications would you make to impact the program or topic in a more positive way and why?