Fall 2008 Course Description
Policy Research Project
This course fulfills requirements for the following specialization(s):
- Social and Economic Policy
- Urban and State Affairs
Description: This policy research project (PRP) aims to give students a first-hand understanding of Texas state health policy through work with Executive and Legislative offices during the 81st Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. The course will focus on a topic of interest across the political spectrum: how to make health insurance more affordable to small businesses and individuals. During the fall semester, students will work on several issue briefs examining policy options such as reinsurance and reforms to the State high-risk pool. These issue briefs will summarize the experiences of other states, synthesize research about different options, and conduct analyses relevant to options likely to be considered by policy makers. The course will support the work of the Texas Coverage Institute funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
During the spring semester, students will be placed in internships within legislative and executive branch offices focused on state health policy. The work in the fall offers students the expertise that will be valuable in the biennial Session in which action on health insurance policy is likely. Students will continue to meet weekly to discuss the status of legislation as well as to continue to explore the substance and process of health policy.
Return to Fall 2008 Course Schedule
