University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Tools for Teaching Health Economics:
An Economic Model, Betsy and Gary, a
Frontline Documentary and Star Trek
Eric Jamelske
jamelsem@uwec.edu
Department of Economics
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Overview

What is Health Economics
Description of Students
 Common Foundation/Framework

Universal Health Care
 Betsy & Gary
 Emergency Medical Hologram
 An Economic Model

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Health Economics
The study of how society manages its scarce resources
 Constrained Choices

What to Produce
 How to Produce it
 Who Gets it


Applications to Health Care
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
My Students
Mostly juniors
 Mostly HCAD majors (long term care profession)
 A few ECON majors, some others

How much does the US spend on health care annually?
 Is this too little, too much, just right?


Health care survey pre-test
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Health Care Survey

In July 2007 some colleagues and I conducted a survey
of Wisconsin residents regarding their health care
coverage and health care concerns as well as their
attitudes regarding health care reform in Wisconsin

Each year I have my Health Economics students take
this survey at the beginning of the semester to help
frame the course before we get going for the semester
The Debate Over Health Care
ObamaCare……Romnesia?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Currently, the U.S. health care system…
In general, I believe that over-utilization (seeking care
when it is/was not really necessary) of health care
services in the U.S. is…
In general, I believe that under-utilization (not seeking
care when it is/was really necessary) of health care
services in the U.S. is…
All U.S. residents should have access to the same basic health care.
I would be willing to pay significantly more in taxes…
I support The Affordable Care Act, Obama-Care
How familiar are you with The Affordable Care Act, Obama-Care?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Universal Health Care

Initial Writing Assignment
Wikipedia Definition
 Sick Around the World (Frontline, PBS)

Sick (Jonathan Cohn, HarperCollins-2007)
 Critical Care (Star Trek Voyager, Season 7)


Two page paper on Universal Health Care in the US
PBS Frontline Documentary
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Sick Around the World

UK, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Taiwan
Everyone must obtain health insurance
 Government pays for those that can’t afford premium

Insurance cannot deny anyone coverage
 Insurance cannot make profit on basic care coverage


Set schedule of prices for doctors, hospitals, drugs…

Spend less, better outcomes, everyone has access, not perfect
SICK
The Untold Story
of America’s
Health Care Crisis
and the People
Who Pay the Price
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Sick

Gary and Betsy
Unemployed, lose insurance
 Feeling ill
 Don’t seek care when should

Cancer
 Get care, but too late


Gary loses wife, kids lose mother, and bankrupt
Star Trek Voyager
Critical Care
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Health Care Allocation

Emergency Medical Hologram, The Doctor
Treatment Coefficient
 Level Red
 Level Blue


Cytoglobin

Critical Care!?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The $64 Million Trillion Question
What is the
optimal amount of
resources to allocate to
health care?
No Definite Answer
No Perfect System