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Introduction to Healthcare Finance

Jeffrey McCullough

Introduction to Healthcare Finance equips healthcare leaders with fundamental finance tools and concepts necessary for effective collaboration with experts and managing organizations. In this course, you’ll explore healthcare pricing, investment valuation, and pharmaceutical research and development costing. You will consider the motivation, consequences, and valuation techniques essential to helping you make strategic decisions and engage in effective bargaining in healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Get an inside look at the variations and complexities of healthcare pricing, trade-offs between financial risk and performance incentives, and the bargaining processes vital to pricing strategies and organizational viability. Financial valuation techniques, such as net present value and internal rate of return, are explored alongside financial risk considerations and opportunity costs.

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What's inside

Syllabus

An Introduction to Healthcare Pricing
We introduce healthcare pricing this week. This is one of the most complex and important topics in healthcare. This week has four objectives. First, we introduce the variation and complexity of healthcare data. Second, we explore the bargaining process that drives pricing strategy and organization’s viability. Finally, we will discuss the role of government policies for healthcare pricing . Examples will focus on relationships between insurance and provider organizations, but the same concepts appear throughout the healthcare industry.
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Modeling Time, Risk, and Return to Value Investments
This week we will introduce financial valuation techniques. We will begin by describing the roles of financial risk and the opportunity cost of time. These concepts are essential for valuing investments. We will focus on two specific techniques, net present value and the internal rate of return. These techniques are fundamental to corporate finance. With slight modifications, they can be used to solve a massive number of healthcare problems.
Measuring The Cost of Pharmaceutical Research & Development (R&D)
The cost of pharmaceutical Research & Development (R&D) is, arguably, the most controversial topic in healthcare finance and economics. We focus our discussion on DiMasi and colleagues’ 2016 study of pharmaceutical R&D costs. This is, essentially, an application of our discounted cash flow techniques. In addition to applying financial techniques, this example illustrates common challenges of deciding which cash flows are relevant and what is the right cost of capital.
Financial Models of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
This week examines healthcare mergers and acquisitions. This is especially important given the massive and ongoing consolidation in the U.S. healthcare market. We will discuss merger motivations and their consequences for the cost and quality of healthcare. We will also examine valuation techniques for mergers. The process is, at one level, a straightforward financial model solved with discounted cash flow techniques. But we also demonstrate how these models serve as tools for strategic decision making and bargaining.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Examines healthcare mergers and acquisitions, which are highly relevant to the ongoing consolidation in the U.S. healthcare market
Introduces healthcare pricing, which is one of the most complex and important topics in healthcare
Taught by Jeffrey McCullough, who is recognized for their work in healthcare finance
Helps learners develop financial modeling skills, which are in high demand in healthcare
Requires that learners come in with some background knowledge in finance
Provides a case study example of pharmaceutical research and development, which is a controversial topic

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Activities

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Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Healthcare Finance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a healthcare administrator, including financial management, strategic planning, and operations management.
Research Analyst
Research analysts provide investment advice to businesses and individuals. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a research analyst, including financial modeling, valuation, and investment analysis.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts provide financial advice to businesses and individuals. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a financial analyst, including financial modeling, valuation, and investment analysis.
Consultant
Consultants provide expert advice to businesses and organizations on a wide range of topics, including healthcare finance. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a consultant, including financial analysis, strategic planning, and communication.
Venture Capitalist
Venture capitalists invest in early-stage companies. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a venture capitalist, including financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring.
Investment Banker
Investment bankers help companies raise capital and execute mergers and acquisitions. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an investment banker, including financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring.
Private Equity Associate
Private equity associates invest in private companies. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a private equity associate, including financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring.
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical sales representatives sell prescription drugs to physicians and other healthcare providers. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a pharmaceutical sales representative, including product knowledge, sales techniques, and negotiation.
Product Manager
Product managers develop and market new products. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a product manager, including market research, product development, and pricing.
Insurance Underwriter
Insurance underwriters evaluate risk and set insurance rates. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an insurance underwriter, including risk assessment, underwriting principles, and insurance products.
Actuary
Actuaries use mathematics and statistics to assess risk. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an actuary, including financial modeling, data analysis, and risk management.
Auditor
Auditors examine financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an auditor, including financial accounting, auditing procedures, and risk assessment.
Financial Planner
Financial planners help individuals and families plan for their financial future. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a financial planner, including financial planning, investment management, and retirement planning.
Compliance Officer
Compliance officers ensure that companies comply with laws and regulations. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a compliance officer, including regulatory compliance, risk management, and internal controls.
Economist
Economists study the economy and make recommendations on economic policy. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an economist, including economic modeling, data analysis, and forecasting.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Healthcare Finance.
Provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare financial management, including topics such as healthcare pricing, investment valuation, and pharmaceutical research and development costing.
Provides learners with foundational knowledge in healthcare finance and tools for making informed financial decisions. Particularly useful for those interested in healthcare management or policy.
Provides a comprehensive understanding of corporate finance principles, including valuation techniques and risk management. Serves as a valuable reference for understanding financial concepts discussed in the course.
Comprehensive reference guide to healthcare finance, including topics such as healthcare insurance, healthcare regulation, and healthcare economics.
Provides a concise overview of healthcare finance for managers, including topics such as financial planning, budgeting, and investment analysis.
Offers a comprehensive analysis of the US healthcare system, covering its structure, financing, and delivery. Helps learners understand the context in which healthcare finance operates.
Provides a conceptual framework for healthcare finance, including topics such as the healthcare system, healthcare costs, and healthcare financing.

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