COURSE NUMBER: MBA297B-1

COURSE TITLE: Healthcare Financing

UNITS OF CREDIT: 2 units

INSTRUCTORS: Jeff Ford

E-MAIL ADDRESS: jeff_ford@mba.berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: http://bspace.berkeley.edu

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Thursdays, 2:00-4:00PM

PREREQUISITE(S): Core Statistics and Core Finance; Healthcare in the 21^st Century (MBA297A.1); or instructor permission

CLASS FORMAT: Lectures, cases, and discussion

REQUIRED READINGS: Required course reader

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Case write-ups, class participation, final exam

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this course is to provide a foundational understanding of the financial challenges being faced by stakeholders in the healthcare system and how the application of quantitative financial methods can inform a manager’s strategic response to those challenges.

The course will be broken up in to three distinct sections where we will explore the issues facing each sector (Manufacturers, Payers & Providers) with linkages between sectors being explored along the way. Students will engage in substantive discussions about how the challenges faced could be addressed. A limited number of industry speakers will be utilized to enhance the dialogue and provide additional case context.

This course is designed to provide students with:

• an understanding of the financial structure of the U.S. healthcare system and the interdependencies of the major healthcare sectors
• exposure to quantitative financial analysis tools being used in the healthcare industry
• an ability to apply quantitative financial analysis to investment, financing, and operating decisions to derive insights for managing within these organizations and strategic planning
• insights into management and policy issues which are playing out into today’s healthcare industry

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

Jeffrey Ford is currently a lecturer at the Haas School of Business and a Senior Manager in Deloitte Consulting’s Healthcare Strategy practice. Jeffrey has extensive experience leading engagements with healthcare organizations on financial issues at the intersection between sectors. He regularly works with corporate leadership to understand their current market performance, identify new market opportunities, and transition between business models.

His recent work has included has included optimizing the cost structure of a large regional hospital system in danger of shutting down, assisting a mid-sized biopharmaceutical manufacturer with implementing new methods for portfolio valuation and rationalization and helping a regional health plan analyze and structure a new provider network model. He has also completed numerous projects assessing the economic viability of patient engagement, wellness, and adherence models.

Jeffrey received his Masters in Business Administration and his Masters in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2008 Jeffrey was awarded the Earl F. Cheit award for outstanding GSI instruction by the Haas School of Business.