Health Care Management & Insurance Studies Concentration

Overview
The concentration in Health Care Management & Insurance Studies within the University's MBA program prepares students for a variety of positions within healthcare-related businesses. Graduates pursue careers across many sectors of the healthcare industry including consulting firms, hospitals, managed care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, long-term care facilities, physician practice management firms and others. The program provides students with the theoretical and conceptual foundations necessary to apply business skills within this setting. As part of the 57 credit MBA program, advanced learning models are offered that focus on understanding health care within the context of economic, financial and managerial perspectives.

The Program
The University of Connecticut's MBA Program is AACSB accredited and the oldest public institution for health care management educational preparation in Southern New England. The Center has proven experience with both non-profit and proprietary organizations within the health care industry. Over the years, the Center has developed state-of-the-art leadership programs in health care management for a wide range of organizations. Our expertise and the innovative nature of our programs has been cited in journals including Managed Care Outlook, Managed Care Magazine, Health Care Leadership Review and the Managed Care Guide for Residents (MDs), and HS World.

The Curriculum
The curriculum focuses on the development of analytical and strategic thinking skills that can be applied within a broad range of health care organizations. The MBA program includes both traditional day and evening courses, as well as courses offered on a special schedule basis. Beginning Fall 2004, part-time studies will be offered evenings at the School's new state-of-the art instructional site in Hartford.

The Faculty
Our faculty includes a team of highly qualified, full time doctorally trained health care scholars with research expertise and experience in the field. The faculty also includes outstanding adjunct faculty recognized in the field for their contributions to the industry.

Partnerships with Industry
The program strives to provide excellence in educational opportunities through partnerships with leading health care organizations. We work closely with organizations to provide opportunities for our students to conduct research, participate in projects and conduct internships.

Placement
The program boasts strong placement results that reflects the continued demand for health care professionals with an understanding of sound business practices. Students from our program have secured positions in all sectors of the health care industry. The program also provides considerable value for students seeking promotional advancement or transitioning from another industry.

Course Offerings and Concentration Requirements:

· HSMG 380 Health Care Organization and Management
· HSMG 383 Health Care Economics
· Primary Concentration: A minimum of two other courses from the list below.
· Secondary Concentration: A minimum of one other course from the list below.

HSMG 380: Health Care Organization and Management
This course examines the nations healthcare delivery system with overviews provided for each major sector of the health economy. The basic tools of economics and finance are employed to gain critical insights into the structure, conduct and performance of each of these sectors. This course is designed to accommodate both health care industry professionals and individuals from other business areas interested in learning more about the health care industry.

HSMG 381: Health Care Law and Policy
This course examines legal, regulatory and ethical considerations in health care management, and the formation of public policy in the health care setting. Emphasis is on understanding legal principles and issues including administrative and regulatory law; institutional and individual liability in the health care sector; employment law; and torts. Special attention is paid to ethics in health care management and its interrelation to law and public policy. May be substituted for BLAW 375.

HSMG 382: Decision Analysis in Health Care
The course covers methods used by health care managers in making strategic and operating decisions, including (but are not limited to) sales forecasting, product valuation, and cost effectiveness and cost/benefit analyses. Example of potential applications include estimating the value of new drugs under development, the payoff profile from strategic alliances and limited partnerships in different health care industries, the valuation of healthcare mergers and acquisitions, the profitability of different HMO benefit plans, and other ventures pertaining to health care organizations. Prerequisites: FCNE 301 and HSMG 383, or consent of instructor.

HSMG 383: Health Care Economics
This course demonstrates how various economic theories can be used to think about health care issues and takes a macro or industry perspective of various health care problems and policy questions. Students are provided with a set of economic tools to evaluate a theoretical or empirical argument relating to health or medical care. The course culminates with an in-depth analysis of the structure, conduct, and performance of the markets for medical insurance, physician services, hospital services, pharmaceutical products, and long-term care. Health care reform is also discussed. May be substituted for FNCE 317. Prerequisites: HSMG 380 and OPIM 303, or consent of instructor.

HSMG 384: Competitive Strategies for Health Care Organizations
This course focuses on the microeconomic organization of healthcare business units and analyzes various issues central to the individual firm's short-term and long-term competitive success. Competitive strategies pertaining to various types of healthcare organizations such as physician practices, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and pharmaceutical companies are explored using a wide variety of business tools and methods. Efficient market theory, industry analysis, the boundaries of the firm, principal and agent problems, incentive mechanisms, mergers and acquisitions, the development and sustainability of competitive advantage, and competitive pricing are some of the general topics discussed in the context of the health care sector. Prerequisite: HSMG 383, or consent of instructor.

HSMG 385: Management of Long-Term Health Care Organizations
This course examines administrative processes within the long-term health care facility including issues related to organizational effectiveness, financial management, regulatory structure, operational procedures, policies and practices.

HSMG 386: Health Insurance & Risk Management
This course examines health insurance choices from the perspective of individuals, employers, and insurers. A portfolio perspective for individuals' choices is taken. Other topics include: health insurance loss and contingency distributions; health insurance loss reserving; pricing (rate-setting) for health insurance products; LTC insurance; health insurer risk management; health reinsurance structures; health insurance derivatives. Prerequisites: FNCE 301, and either FNCE 317 or HSMG 383, or consent of instructor.

HSMG 387: Employee Benefits
Employers worldwide devote significant dollars and resources to effectively managing employee benefit plans, including health and life insurance, disability insurance and deferred compensation (retirement) plans. The need for effective benefits management intensifies as employers compete to attract and retain employees. This course covers benefit plan design, management tools and techniques for effective risk management as well as regulatory issues shaping the field. Students interested in health care, insurance and retirement and investment planning will find this course informative. Prerequisites: HSMG 380 and FNCE 301, or consent of instructor

HSMG 389: Health Care Internship
Under the guidance of a qualified preceptor, students are provided opportunities to study and analyze an organization's characteristics, functions, goals, strategies, and decision-making processes. Managerial skill is developed through the performance of administrative tasks and through participation in problem-solving processes. A research paper is required.