Master
2021/2022
Regulated Competition in Healthcare Systems: Theory & Practice
Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Elective course
Area of studies:
Law
Delivered by:
School of Theory of Law and Comparative Law
Where:
Faculty of Law
When:
1 year, 4 module
Mode of studies:
distance learning
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Fatima Dzgoeva
Master’s programme:
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Law
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
4
Course Syllabus
Abstract
In this course you will learn about the theory and practice of 'regulated competition' (also known as 'managed competition') in healthcare systems. Many countries have implemented or consider implementation of regulated competition in healthcare. Examples include Australia, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Ireland, Israel, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. After completing this course, you will be able to explain how regulated competition (in theory) promotes affordability, accessibility and efficiency of healthcare. Moreover, you will be able to explain why (in practice) successful implementation of regulated competition is very complex and often requires difficult trade-offs between policy objectives. We think this course is highly valuable to any student, researcher or professional interested in healthcare system reform and design. Specific topics in this course include a typology of healthcare systems, the economics of healthcare markets, theory and preconditions of regulated competition, risk adjustment and risk selection in health insurance, competition policy and provider payment.
Learning Objectives
- Should be able to explain the model of regulated competition in healthcare including its background, principles and preconditions for success.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- To describe and explain how governments did attempt to contain health care cost and to what extent this was successful
- To describe and explain how governments tried to improve incentives for efficiency and why this is far from easy
- Explain key aspects of the regulated competition model
- Explain how consumer choice can promote efficiency in healthcare systems
- Describe typical tools for insurers to improve efficiency
- Describe tools that can be used by the regulator to manage and protect competition and to make health insurance affordable for all
- Explain what premium regulation typically looks like and how it can promote affordability of insurance plans for people with expensive medical conditions
- Explain typical forms of risk selection by insurers and their effects
- Explain what risk equalization can look like and how it reduces selection incentives
- Explain what risk sharing can look like and how it reduces selection incentives
