Health systems world-wide have challenges and opportunities in deciding how to deliver or mobilizing there sources needed in improving health outcomes. This is there suit of issues around globalization, new ideas about how public sectors should be managed, and increased patient expectations for democracy in influencing the type of care and services, how they should get and where should get the care and services. Health systems managers face challenges in responding by making sophisticated decisions on what care to prioritize at what levels without wasting finite resources for health. The “Understanding Health Systems Finance” module is therefore appropriate for health studies undergraduates and professionals seeking new careers or progression within the health sector. The students will be administrators, care providers, policy-makers, and programme managers seeking to understand why some of the strategies used within health systems are developed for the delivery and financing of healthcare. Depending on their work experiences and type of organizations, students are introduced to concepts that are consistent with international commitments to increasing resources for public financing of essential healthcare and services.
2. MODULE AIMS
Because all health systems have the same objective to improve the health of their citizens by guaranteeing protection against cost so fullness, the module provides students with an overview of the common tools, trends and policies used in financing healthcare and across the world.
2.1 It aims at preparing students in understand how these elements are influenced by differences in economic, political, demographic, social and epidemiological contexts of different health systems.
2.2 In addition they are prepared in analyzing to understand how health systems in different countries can learn from each other’s health financing strategies in order to improve health status of their citizens.
3. MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES
3.1 Module Outcomes
Students are particularly developed in making sense of the variety of challenges faced by health systems participants in managing resources for health. Those who complete the module become knowledgeable about the strategies for financing health. They will also be able to critically appraise individual financing mechanisms to understand their theoretical and practical benefits in different health systems.
3.2 Competencies
Among the competencies, the module helps the students in contextualizing health financing strategies so that they are:
• Better understanding sustainable health financing mechanisms that improve health outcomes (Analytical and Interpretive competencies)
• Demonstrating the skills needed in appraising healthcare financing strategies (Technical competencies)
• Identify opportunities and challenges in mobilizing resources for essential health services in light of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (Interpretive/Integrative competencies)
4. READING AND RESOURCES LIST
The following reading and other learning resources are prescribed and recommended in order for students to comprehend issues covered in the module:
4.1 Core Textbooks
4.1.1 Glennerster H (2009) Understanding the finance of welfare: What welfare costs and how to pay for it. (2nd Ed) Bristol, The Policy Press
4.1.2 Gottrett P, Schreiber G (2006) Health Financing Revisited: A practitioners’ guide.Available at: https://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTHSD/Resources/topics/Health-Financing/HFRFull.pdf, The World Bank, Washington
4.2 Recommended Textbooks
4.2.1 Gruen R., Howarth, A. (2005) Managing, Health Services Finance Maidenhead, Open University Press
4.2.2 Mossalios E, Dixon A, Figueras J, Kutzin J (2002) Funding healthcare: options for Europe. Maidenhead, Open University Press.
4.2.3 Wonderling D, Gruen R, Black N (2005) Introduction to health economics. Berkshire, Open University Press
6. ASSESSMENT
The Module is worth 15 Credit and comprises ONE ASSESSMENT COMPONENT explained as follows:
6.1 COMPONENT (Only 1): COURSEWORK WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
(a) Details of the Assessment Question
Critically discuss the possible options for financing the rehabilitation of drug users in order to maximize the relevant service-users’ experience with Mental health rehabilitation services.
Mental health rehabilitation services specialise in working with people whose long term and complex needs cannot be met by general adult mental health services.
Rehabilitation services:
• provide specialist assessment, treatment, interventions and support to help people to recover from their mental health problems and to (re) gain the skills and confidence to live successfully in the community
• always work in partnership with service users and carers, adopting a recovery orientation that places collaboration at the centre of all activities
• work with other agencies that support service users’ recovery and social inclusion, including supported accommodation, education and employment, advocacy and peer support services.
Method of Submission: Through Turnitin on Moodle
The assessment seek to demonstrate achievement of Learning Outcomes (1 – 6) described in the Module Specifications (section 7) included in these guides.
(b) Presentation of the assignment
(i) The essay should be appropriately referenced.
(ii) It should be double spaced and type using an appropriate Font with the text aligned to both the Left & Right margins.
(iii) Follow Guidelines in the “School of Health and Biosciences Guide to Assessment” section of the Handbook – “A Student’s Guide to Success in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience unless directed otherwise by the Module Leader
(iv) All words within the text are to be included in the word count. Any work which does not keep within 10% of the set word count will receive a penalty, which will be a deduction of 10% of the marks originally awarded, except in cases where this would take you below the threshold mark for the component. The word count does not include the list of references at the end of the work.
6.1.1 Submitting onto Turnitin
The Assignment is submitted through Turnitin, an anti-plagiarism software used by the University. A Turnitin Drop Box will be created for this purpose on Moodle at least four weeks before the submission date. Students are encouraged to submit the Assignment before the deadline as late submission may be PENALISED or NOT MARKED. Except when Turnitin is not available due to some technical problems, there are no provisions for extending the deadlines.
The work will be marked Online meaning only the work uploaded onto Turnitin will be assessed. NO HARD COPIES will be accepted for this Assessment.
Extenuating Circumstances:
Students are advised to follow correct procedures to alert the Module Leader about circumstances like serious illnesses that may prevent them from completing the Coursework on deadlines.
Main aim (s) of the module:
• To give students understanding of the main concepts, theories, debates, and international evidence in health systems finance.
• To enable students to enhance service quality and sustainable delivery through the application of the health finance knowledge base
Main topics of study:
• Sustainable sources of healthcare funding and budgeting
• Methods of financing healthcare/ mixed economy of funding
• Commissioning/purchasing healthcare
• Revenue collection and allocation for health services
• International perspectives on prospective reimbursement systems
• Health Insurance and provider payment mechanisms
• Maintaining efficiency, equity and service quality under prospective reimbursement.
Learning Outcomes for the module
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
Knowledge
1. Understand the sustainable healthcare funding debate, in its international context.
2. Explain the role of purchasers, consumers and commissioners in the fair allocation of resources.
3. Appreciate the use of activity based costing and service line reporting procedures for efficient payment and cost control.
Thinking skills
4. Critically analyze the different methods of healthcare funding, and the implications for managers, practitioners and patients.
Subject-based practical skills
5. Employ strategies to manage the effective use of prospective payment and clinical coding systems in healthcare.
Skills for life and work (general skills)
6. Apply techniques to enable managers to maintain sustainable service quality under prospective reimbursement.
Relevant Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) Dimensions
C4.3 Appraise, interpret, and apply suggestions, recommendations and directives to improve services.
C5.3 Contributeto improving quality.
G2.3 Test and review new concepts, models, methods, practices, products and equipment G4.3Coordinate, monitor and review the use of financial resources
G7.3 Contribute to developing and sustaining capacity and capability
IK2.3 Gather, analyze, interpret and present extensive and/or complex data and information IK3.3Organize knowledge and information resources and provide information to meet needs.
Teaching/learning methods/strategies enabling achievement to the Learning Outcomes:
Lectures/discussions/interactive group activities/seminar discussions and Reflective exercises
Formative assessment will be used to provide feedback to students and gauge their progress through the module. This may involve:
• Reading and comprehension activities
• In class Group discussions
• Self-testing Quizzes on Moodle
• Grouppresentations
• Analysis of selected case-studies
• Essaywriting
Assessment methods which enable students to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the module:
A written assignment, critically discussing the options for financing healthcare, for a chosen service user group, or for a chosen healthcare setting/ service
Learning Outcomes demonstrated: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
Weighting: 100%
LearningOutcomes demonstrated
1,2,3,4,5,6
Reading and resources for the module: Core:
1. GlennersterH(2009)Understandingthefinanceofwelfare:Whatwelfarecostsandhowtopayfor it.(2ndEd)Bristol,ThePolicyPress.
2. Gottrett P, Schreiber G (2006) Health Financing Revisited: A practitioners’ guide. Washington,The
World Bank.Available at: https://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTHSD/Resources/topics/Health-Financing/HFRFull.pdf
Recommended
3. GruenR,HowarthA(2005)ManagingHealthServicesFinanceMaidenhead,OpenUniversity
Press
4. Mossalios E,Dixon A,Figueras J,Kutzin J (2002) Funding healthcare: options for Europe. Maidenhead,Open University Press
5. Wonderling D, Gruen R, Black N (2005) Introduction to health economics. Berkshire, Open University Press
