Health and Healing in America

Wed 3/29: we finish up the Pox book by looking at chapters 6-8.

Starting the week of April 3, we will examine the past and present of US health care policy … obviously a very timely topic. I’d advise paying more attention to the news about health care policy negotiations than you might ordinarily during the next couple of weeks, as this story is unfolding dynamically day to day.

Mon 4/3 Health Care Policy Pre-2008 Reading – Burnham chapters 8-14 by assignment, see below. Everyone reads: Chapin, “The Historical Origins of Today’s Healthcare Debates” (online) and Stevens, “History and Health Care Policy in the US” (PDF on Blackboard).

Read your assigned chapter for two things: 1) Glossary Terms! Add them to the Class Wiki, or improve someone else’s term if it’s already added; 2) skim through looking for any EVENTS or DEVELOPMENTS in national health care policy. Bring your notes on those to Monday’s class.

Chapter 8 – Ametei, Anisko, Bechard, Becker, Bouvier
Chapter 9 – Braun, Cahill, Cormier, Costa, Dempsey
Chapter 10 – DeSantis, Downing, Goldsmith, Hickman, Hummel
Chapter 11 – Jacques, Johnson, Joncas, Kupstas, Litchfield
Chapter 12 – Mendala, Mias, Miller-Vickers, Nader
Chapter 13 – Oevermann, Ouilette, Pawlowski, Rearick, Seed
Chapter 14 – Sheehan, Sinclair, Sneigocki

Links for Today:
Operation Coffeecup 1961
“Harry and Louise” Anti-Clinton Health Care Reform Ads, 1993
Hillary Clinton testifying in Congress on behalf of Health Care Reform

Today’s Slides:

Wed 4/5 Film Day – we will screen portions of the 2007 Michael Moore film Sicko in class. Reading: PDF New York Times Obamacare Overview (November 2010) – posted on Blackboard under “Readings.”

Mon 4/10 Obamacare 2010-20xx? Reading:Summary of the Affordable Care Act (Kaiser Family Foundation), also posted as a PDF on Blackboard, and Obama’s Speech to Congress, Sept 2009 (recommended viewing it as given @ 47 minutes, or read transcript). Please BRING LAPTOPS, we will be looking at some additional online resources in class. Response #3 is due in the Blackboard Response Journal before class.

Wed 4/12 Costs and Comparisons – readings / online links will be posted to the course website. Disease Paper is due at classtime.

Mon 4/17 No Class; Patriots Day

Wed 4/19 What Just Happened? – readings / online links will be posted to the course website

Mon 4/24 Research Day – BRING LAPTOPS, we will use classtime to research for your Position Paper assignment.

Wed 4/26 Health Care Policy Debate – come with your position paper in hand, ready to debate these issues!

Mon 5/1 Course Wrap-Up & Exam Prep. Make sure your Class Glossary entries are complete by this date.

Final Exam: Mon 5/8 at 12:30 pm