This course will discuss historical and current health policy issues and their impacts. The course topics cover private and public health care systems (such as the health insurance systems in the U.S. and Taiwan), global health issues, health care reforms (such as the Affordable Care Act), long term care systems, health behaviors and conditions (including obesity, prescription drug abuse, smoking, drinking, and some other risky health behaviors), and the impact of environment on health.

Many of the readings analyze policies from statistical and economic perspectives. Therefore, students will be introduced to health economic concepts based on the readings. This course will also discuss health policy issues in class, such as why we should care about the uninsured or the financial issues of health care systems. After taking the course, students will not only be introduced health policy concepts but will learn how to conduct a health policy research by finishing their final projects.