Research Topic and Outline
The final project for this course is a Research Paper. The first two assignments will help you find the tools needed to prepare and gradually build your final research paper. The research paper for this course will be argumentative. The argumentative research paper requires you to take a position on an issue and support the position with persuasive facts and statements.
First, select a Research Paper TOPIC that can be assessed using health care economics principles.
Please choose from the following topics (or any other topic with approval of your instructor) the issue you are going to discuss.
A history of Medicare cost containment policies
Not-for-profit versus for profit
State children health insurance programs
Medicare prospective payment program
Medicare and Medicate dual eligibility
Health maintenance organizations
Long-term health care insurance
The managed care backlash
Impact of obesity on healthcare costs
Impact of diabetes on healthcare costs
Impact of smoking on healthcare costs
Nursing shortages
Cost of Pharmaceuticals
Second, provide your research paper with the following OUTLINE (Your final paper assignment should include a detail explanation of this outline):
a. Introduction -Your introduction should give a brief overview of the topic you are going to discuss. The last sentence of your introduction section should be your thesis statement. Your thesis statement should start with The purpose of this paper is to..
b. Body of paper – The body of your paper should organize how you plan to address each required section of the paper. Each supporting item is then broken down into smaller supporting items.
An overview of the issue
Why is this issue a concern from a health care economics perspective?
Who are the major parties involved in this issue?
Which market forces have an impact on this issue?
How is demand illustrated in this issue?
How is supply illustrated in this issue?
How has the affordable care act impacted this issue?
How are health disparities demonstrated in this issue?
How has this issue been improved in other global markets?
What is your recommendation for making improvements based on economic principles.
c. Conclusion The conclusion of your paper should summarize your thesis statement and the supporting items discussed in your paper. In this outline, please indicate what you expect the finding to be.
d. References Provide list of five (5) bibliographic references (using APA format). Your final research paper will require seven (7) bibliographic references. (You may use your textbook as a reference and you should have a minimum of 6 academic outside references including 3 peer-reviewed journal articles
Final Paper: All students are required to actively participate in the completion and submission of a final paper. The final paper should be between 10-12 pages in length (not included in the page total – abstract, title page, references). All parts and recommendations in the final paper must be supported by peer-reviewed, relevant and reliable outside sources.
The final paper will require students to identify a specific community and assess its population health infrastructure. After the community has been identified and approved, students will provide an overall demographical and epidemiology sketch of the community which will include health trends impacting healthcare demand in the community. Next, students will assess the community healthcare systems for its ability to deliver care across the spectrum of healthcare needs, including public health systems, ambulatory care, emergency care, acute inpatient care, behavior health care, long term care, and alternative/complementary health care. Students will then analyze the current state of access to care across health systems for this community and distinguish unique healthcare needs of this community and faced depending on if it is a rural or urban community. Finally, students will analyze proposed future demographic and epidemiology health trends, healthcare demand, and access to healthcare across the spectrum of healthcare needs specific to this community.
