U.S.

Health Care Crisis:

The Politics of Health Care Reform
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Spring 2015
Course Numbers:

POL / NUR / HST 536 JX

Room, Day and Time:

Storer Auditorium, School of Business

Mondays, 5:00pm 7:40pm

Number of Credits:

3 credits

Faculty:

Professor Donna E. Shalala

University of Miami
260D 1300 Campo Sano
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Office Telephone: 305-284-5155
Email: dshalala@miami.edu
Teaching Assistant: Natalia San Juan
Email: n.sanjuan@umiami.edu

Office Hours:

By appointment only.
To schedule, email Lucy Mascaro: lmascaro@miami.edu

Course Description:

This course will explore key health policy issues primarily

in the United States, including the politics and economics
of health care reform. Fundamental concerns within the
health care system such as cost, quality, and access to care
will be analyzed. Major topics of discussion will include
Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, health care reform,
patient safety, and bioterrorism.

Evaluation:

Course requirements include:

* Course Attendance
10 pts
* Clicker Participation
10 pts
* Exam 1 (in class)
25 pts
* Exam 2 (in class)
25 pts
* Homework Assignments
25 pts
* Outside Event Attendance
5 pts
(Events will be posted on Blackboard)

Required Materials:

iClickers will be incorporated into each session. Each student should rent or purchase an
iClicker and bring it to every session. Please register your iClicker on Blackboard for
attendance record purposes (students will be required to click their attendance at the
beginning of each session). Responses to in-class clicker questions and polls will not be
used to evaluate students, and are for learning purposes only.
Jacobs L., Skocpol T. (2012). Health Care Reform and American Politics: What
Everyone Needs to Know, Revised and Updated. Second Edition. New York: Oxford
University Press.
ISBN: 9780199976133.
Christensen, C., Grossman, J., & Hwang, J. (2009). The Innovators Prescription: A
Disruptive Solution for Health Care. New York: McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 9780071592086
John F. Kennedy School of Government Case Program. Keeping a Campaign Promise:
George W. Bush and Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.
https://hbr.org/product/keeping-a-campaign-promise-george-w-bush-and-medicareprescription-drug-coverage/HKS191-PDF-ENG
Weekly readings will be posted on Blackboard (www.courses.miami.edu). Please be
certain to read all assigned readings before the beginning of each class. A glossary of
terms will be provided on Blackboard along with each units readings to enhance
comprehension. In addition, many units will include links to video tutorials. Please be
certain to watch any video tutorials before the beginning of each class.

Periodical Subscriptions: Students are encouraged to read daily the health policy related
articles published in Kaiser Health News so as to be amply prepared for in class discussions.
Direct links to relevant periodicals websites have been posted on the course Blackboard site
under Course Links.
Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at each class session is mandatory. In addition
to attending each class, students are encouraged to attend outside events. Events will be posted to
Blackboard (www.courses.miami.edu), as they are scheduled. Please check the site regularly as
many of the events will require pre-registration.
Excused Absences: Unexcused absences will lower a students attendance grade. In order for an
absence to be excused, a student who is unable to attend a class for sufficient cause must notify
the Teaching Assistant prior to the class with appropriate documentation. Course faculty will
determine whether the absence is excused.
Assignments: A printed copy of each assignment must be turned in at the beginning of class on
the day it is due. Assignments that are turned in late will automatically result in the deduction of
10% per day, unless course faculty is provided with appropriate documentation.
Note: International students- If you do not have health insurance in the United States, instead of
answering the questions for the first assignment, you may write a paragraph describing how you
access health care in your home country. Please include answers to the following questions: Do
you have health insurance in your home country? How do individuals in your country obtain

health insurance i.e., through the government, through employers, through the private market,
etc.? When you see a doctor, how is the visit paid for? When you buy medication, how is it paid
for?
Honor Code: Students are expected to be familiar with and to comply with the University of
Miamis Honor Code. These Codes are established for the student body to protect the academic
integrity of the University of Miami, to encourage consistent ethical behavior among students,
and to foster a climate of fair competition. While a student's commitment to honesty and personal
integrity is assumed and expected, these Codes are intended to provide an added measure of
assurance that, in fulfilling the University's requirements, the student will never engage in
falsification, plagiarism, or other deception regarding the materials he/she presents. Each student
is responsible for completing the academic requirements of each course in the manner indicated
by the faculty.
Information for Students with Disabilities: You are advised and encouraged to contact the
Office of Disability Services as soon as possible to provide the necessary documentation in order
to obtain academic accommodations. Faculty cannot provide accommodations without a letter
from the Office of Disability Services. You may contact that office at:
University Center
Room N201
(305) 284-2374; TDD (305) 284-3401