iHEA

International Health Economics Association

7th World Congress: Harmonizing Health and Economics

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July 6, 2009

16th Annual RAND Summer Institute

Location: Santa Monica, California
Dates: 6-9 July 2009
Application Deadline: 13 March 2009

The RSI consists of two conferences addressing critical issues facing our aging population: a Mini-Medical School for Social Scientists (July 6-7) and a workshop on the Demography, Economics and Epidemiology of Aging (July 8-9). The primary aim of the RSI is to expose scholars interested in the study of aging to a wide range of research being conducted in fields beyond their own specialties.

The Mini-Med School focuses on biomedical issues relating to aging and should be of interest to all non-medically trained scholars regardless of background. Topics will be drawn from the diverse fields of biomedicine, including biology, genetics, patient care, psychiatry, and other areas. Expert clinicians and researchers will provide participants with insight into the science of aging and a greater understanding of relevant medical issues.

The Workshop on Aging is targeted to pre- and post-doctoral students and junior faculty, and to more senior researchers new to aging research. It will consist of four half-day sessions with topics drawn from research areas in the social sciences, including discussions of savings, disability, and quality of life issues. In each session, leading experts will discuss the state of the literature, integrating results from their own research and supplementing these overviews with more detailed analyses of specific topics.

We invite all interested researchers to apply to attend the 2009 RSI. Applicants may apply for fellowship support to pay for registration, travel, and accommodations. Both the Mini-Med School and the workshop are described more fully at our web site. For additional information, please contact Diana Malouf (malouf@rand.org).

RSI is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health.

permalink July 6, 2009: Workshop

July 9, 2009

Call for Abstracts: The Middle East and North Africa Health Policy Forum, Achieving Health Equity and Efficiency in the Middle East and North Africa

Location: MENA region to be determined
Conference date: November 2009 (exact date to be determined)
Abstract submission deadline: 9th July 2009

The Middle East and North Africa Health Policy Forum (MENA HPF) is pleased to invite submissions of research on two themes, equity in health and efficiency in healthcare, for presentation at the MENA HPF 2009 conference. Please send your proposal and Curriculum Vitae (CV), in line with the terms outlined below by 9th July 2009 to paul.sherrell@dh.gsi.gov.uk.

Background

The region is characterised by inefficient and inequitable health outcomes. Despite efforts to improve their performance, the health systems in these countries continue to be plagued by inadequate and inequitable access to care. Moreover, health care services tend to be inefficiently provided and of poor technical quality. Poor service in the public sector causes many, including the poor, to seek care in the private sector, which can lead to impoverishment in all but the richest population groups. Poor health outcomes are also attributable to differences in the wider determinants of health: including education, exposure to risk and poverty.

Conference Objectives

The MENA HPF will be hosting a conference in November 2009 (precise date and location to be determined) focused on two important themes in health and healthcare: equity and efficiency. The aim of the conference is to share findings from research and analysis to date with policy makers, and to identify priorities for future work to be commissioned by the Forum for a subsequent conference early in 2010. The conference will consider equity and efficiency separately and therefore proposals will be judged for each of the two themes individually.

Call for Papers:

Equity Theme

We invite a wide range of empirical and analytical contributions from health management and planning, economics, statistics, public health, sociology of medicine, political economy and related fields that:

  • Describe and analyse the extent of inequity;
  • Expose gaps in policy-relevant knowledge that are susceptible to empirical research;
  • Propose or defend policy initiatives; and/or
  • Analyse the problems in political economy that inhibit improvement through policy.

Papers should cover any or all of the following dimensions of equity:

  • Social determinants of health inequality;
  • Equity in funding healthcare;
  • Equity of access and utilisation of healthcare; and/or
  • Achieving equity of health outcomes.

Efficiency Theme

The efficiency theme will cover incentives in the healthcare system, efficiency and quality of care. We invite proposals from health management and planning, economics, statistics, public health, sociology of medicine, political economy and related fields that:

  • Assess the efficiency of healthcare provision, (or that tackle difficulties with its assessment);
  • Evaluate policy with regard to the incentives under which care is delivered, its efficiency and/or its quality;
  • Propose initiatives to introduce incentives that drive quality and efficiency in the healthcare system;
  • Analyse the problems in political economy that inhibit improvement through policy.

Papers should cover incentives, efficiency and/or quality of care in any or all of the policy-relevant healthcare areas including:

  • Public health
  • Primary care
  • Secondary care
  • Specialist Care
  • Community care
  • Emergency care
  • The pharmaceutical industry

Proposals will be assessed against the criteria of policy relevance and analytical rigour in line with the Forum’s objective of effective policy promotion. A secondary criterion of local authorship, or authorship by regional analysts working overseas, will be used, which reflects the Forum’s aim to build analytical capacity in the region.

A conference committee, to be commissioned for this purpose by the MENA HPF, will review the proposals. Up to ten papers will be selected for presentation and discussion at the 2009 conference, to which policy-makers will be invited, and open critique and discussion facilitated. Speakers’ and discussants’ accommodation and expenses for the conference will be funded.

A prize of US$1,000 will be paid to each proposal chosen for presentation at the conference, with a further US$5,000 being awarded to the best two papers from each theme.

Guidelines for Proposals and further information

Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and a 500-word abstract of their proposed paper by 9th July 2009; these should be sent to Paul Sherrell, of the interim secretariat to the MENA HPF paul.sherrell@dh.gsi.gov.uk.

The abstract should:

(i) define the research problem to be investigated, (ii) state how the study will contribute to our knowledge given the existing literature, (iii) explain the methodology of the study and the data to be used, and (iv) demonstrate the policy relevance of the findings. The MENA HPF reserves the right to exclude proposals that do not meet this guideline. Further information about the Forum, the competition and the proposed conference is available from the same address.

If your abstract is accepted, you will be asked (by 16th July) to submit a completed paper to reach the Forum by 18th September. The conference committee will review the papers and select papers for presentation to the conference, notifying the applicants by 9th October.

Timetable

Abstract and CV Proposal Deadline: 9th July 2009
Written papers deadline: 18th September 2009
Selection of Papers for Presentation at the Conference: 9th October 2009
Conference: Nov/Dec 2009

permalink July 9, 2009: Health Care

July 10, 2009

Call for Abstracts: Health Services and Policy Research Conference 2009

Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Australia
Dates: November 25 - 27, 2009
Early bird Registration deadline: September 25, 2009
Abstract submission deadline: July 10, 2009

Invitation

permalink July 10, 2009: Health Policy

July 22, 2009

Health Economists’ Study Group (HESG) Summer Conference

Location: Sheffield, United Kingdom
Dates: 22-24 July 2009
Abstract Submission Deadline: 22 May 2009
Registration Deadline: 1 July 2009

The Health Economics and Decision Science group at the University of Sheffield are proud to be hosting the Health Economists’ Study Group (HESG) summer conference. All details are available at: http://www.shef.ac.uk/scharr/sections/heds/hesg09

The HESG invites the submission of papers on any relevant health economics topic for the 22-24th July meeting in Sheffield. Preference will be given to work-in-progress and PhD students. The HESG meeting will follow its standard format with papers submitted in advance, introduced and reviewed by a discussant other than that author.

Please send a title and abstract of up to 250 words of the proposed content by 22nd May 2009 5pm if you wish to have a paper considered. The following abstract structure is preferred, although a different structure would be acceptable if justified:

  • Title, authors and contact details
  • Aims
  • Methods
  • Data (if any)
  • Results
  • Conclusions

Note - Please do not include Tables/Graphics/Diagrams in your abstract. Please submit abstracts by e-mail, with a subject header HESG ABSTRACT and include the abstract in the BODY of the message to: hesg-july09@sheffield.ac.uk

Selection Criteria

Papers on any health economics topic will be considered. Please note that there is a restriction on the number of slots available for papers, and there is no guarantee that your abstract will be accepted. In the case of over-subscription, the academic panel will select papers on the following basis:

  • Only abstracts submitted before the deadline will be considered
  • Papers by PhD students are encouraged
  • Work-in-progress papers and those at an early stage of development are encouraged
  • Papers with little or no economics content will be rejected
  • Reproduced papers and reports (especially those written for other audiences) and reproduced book chapters are likely to be rejected
  • Authors, or sets of authors (but not institutions or units), may be restricted to one paper
  • If all the above criteria are satisfied and there is still over-subscription, papers will be selected on the basis of first-come-first served.

Registration

Registration for delegates is now available, full details and registration forms are available online. Registration is available until 1st July 2009.

All Enquiries

HESG Sheffield
Email: hesg-july09@sheffield.ac.uk

Academic Panel

  • Paul Tappenden
  • Jonathan Tosh
  • Aki Tsuchiya
  • Allan Wailoo
  • Tracey Young

permalink July 22, 2009: Health Economics

July 31, 2009

Call for Abstracts: International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) 09

Location: Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
Dates: November 29, 2009 - December 1, 2009
Abstract Submission: July 31, 2009
Sponsors: IAPAC and the Foundation for AIDS Resesarch (amfAR)
Website: http://www.iapac.org/iapac09

Description: IAPAC 09 is primarily an abstract-driven conference, which will feature oral abstract presentations (including late breakers), poster presentations, panels and plenary sessions. Abstract-driven sessions will address issues in two tracks: HIV Clinical Management or HIV Prevention, Testing, and Psychosocial Support. Abstract contents will be either research-based data using established scientific methods or demonstrate experience and information from individuals or institutions working in the field. The target audience for this conference includes physicians, pharmacists, physicians in training, nurses, psychologists, social workers, advocates, healthcare alliance coordinators, and allied healthcare professionals in the fields of HIV and AIDS.

Important Dates:

Early Registration: August 14, 2009
Notice of Abstract Acceptance/Rejection: August 31, 2009
Late-Breaker Abstract Submission: September 4, 2009
Notice of Late-Breaker Abstract Acceptance/Rejection: September 18, 2009
Standard Registration: September 25, 2009
Hotel Room Block: September 25, 2009

permalink July 31, 2009: Health Care

September 10, 2009

Workshop for Users of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and the Cross-National Equivalent Files (CNEF)

Location: Cornell University, Ithica, New York, US
Dates: September 10-12, 2009
Application deadline: August 1, 2009
Scholarship application deadline: July 15, 2009

The Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University will hold a workshop to introduce researchers to the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and the Cross-National Equivalent Files (CNEF). Twenty-four waves of GSOEP data are available to researchers interested in using this rich panel study. The CNEF currently includes data from six country’s panel studies: the GSOEP, the British Household Panel Study (BHPS), the Canadian Survey of Income and Labour Dynamics (SLID), the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA), the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) and the United States Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Data from each of these studies have been extracted and manipulated to facilitate cross-national comparative research. The resulting subset of variables from each study constitutes the Cross-National Equivalent Files.

The purpose of the workshop is to introduce and familiarize new users with the file structure and potential of the GSOEP and CNEF data. Current users will also benefit from sessions with highly trained researchers who will explain more subtle issues involved in analyses that use the GSOEP sample of residents of the former East Germany.

Instructional Facilities:

The workshop will be run by Gert Wagner, Joachim Frick, Markus Grabka and Jan Goebel of the Deutsches Institut fuer Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW) - Berlin (GSOEP and GSOEP-CNEF), Dean Lillard of Cornell University (PSID-CNEF), Ursina Kuhm of the Swiss Household Panel (SHP-CNEF), Roger Wilkins from the Household Labour and Income Dynamics in Australia (HILDA-CNEF), and representatives from Statistics Canada (SLID- -CNEF) and the University of Essex (BHPS-CNEF).

Curriculum:

The workshop will consist of nine sessions covering the following topics:
1. Introduction to the GSOEP file structure
2. Merging Household and Person specific files
3. Sample issues
* Clustered sampling, Sample attrition, Sample weights and Issues when comparing residents of east and west German states
4. Cross-sectional versus longitudinal research
5. Constructing Calendar data from Spell files
6. Web-based user support
7. Introduction to the CNEF file structure
8. Linking CNEF files to their parent survey data
* PSID, BHPS, GSOEP, HILDA and SHP
9. Procedures for accessing the SLID Equivalent file

The workshop will commence with a reception and keynote speech on the evening of September 10 th . Sessions will be held throughout the day September 11 th and on the morning of September 12 th.

Costs:

The workshop fee is $200, which includes all instructional materials, the welcoming receptions, and lunches on September 11 th and 12 th. The fee also includes the cost of a copy of the Public Use Version of the GSOEP and the CNEF data, subject to the approval of a written contract for their use by the DIW, the UKDA, the HILDA Data Archive, or the Swiss Foundation for Research in Social Science.

Hotel accommodations are available at a reduced rate of $109 per night at the Ithaca Comfort Inn Motel. Please see details below.

Application Dates:

Applications for the workshop should be sent no later than August 1, 2009. Applications for scholarships should be sent no later than July 15 th , 2009. Applications will be considered in the order in which they arrive. The workshop will be limited to 20 people.

Scholarships:

Funds provided by Cornell University and the DIW allow us to offer partial scholarships on a competitive basis to offset transportation, hotels, and registration fees.

Scholarship Application:

To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit: 1 A letter stating why they are interested in coming to the workshop. 2 A brief description of the research they will pursue with the GSOEP and/or CNEF data 3 A statement attesting that funds to cover the workshop costs are not available from their university or research institute. 4 Graduate students or research associates should include a supporting letter from their senior advisor with their application.

For further information or an application, contact:

Melody Reinecke, Department of Policy Analysis and Management, 120 MVR Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA. Telephone: 607-255-8012, FAX: 607-255-4071, Email: GSOEP@cornell.edu or CNEF@cornell.edu.

Conference information will also be available on the Department of Policy Analysis and Management web site

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation or status as a disabled veteran or as a veteran of the Vietnam era to any extent discrimination is prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

permalink September 10, 2009: Workshop

September 15, 2009

Call for abstracts: European Congress Healthcare Planning and Design

Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Conference dates: 6-9 June 2010
Abstract submission deadline: September 15th 2009, (12.00 hrs CET)

A European Congress that addresses challenges for the worldwide healthcare planning and design community, organised by the Dutch Centre for Health Assets in partnership with the European Centre for Health Assets and Architecture.

6-9 June 2010, Congress Centre De Doelen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The organizers of the European Congress Healthcare Planning and Design invite abstract proposals for workshops to be held as part of the congress programme. Be part of this major European Congress on this topic and help provide answers and insights on some of the key questions facing decision makers on healthcare assets issues today!

The theme of the congress is ‘innovation in health assets strategy, architecture and finance for sustainable healthcare’. The main question which will be addressed in this congress is how the built environment will interact with the changing needs of the European healthcare sector. The new global financial situation is influencing public and private decisions and is making room for innovative solutions to create sustainable health assets in the wider Europe.

Windows of opportunity include new strategic real estate approaches, functional and aesthetic design innovations of healthcare environments, and health asset financing arrangements. As Europe’s economy is now exploring new territory, versatile solutions from a wide range of countries will be showcased, each of them providing different routes to ensure performance, accessibility, equity and quality of infrastructure. This congress will bring together policy makers, project decision makers, architects, healthcare managers and insurance providers to discuss various approaches derived from validated case studies.

More information about abstract submission can be found at call for presentations and the latest conference information can be found on the following website: http://ducha10.ducha.nl/

permalink September 15, 2009: Health Care

October 2, 2009

2009 Health Econometrics Workshop

Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: October 2-3, 2009
Submission deadline: July 1, 2009

The purpose of this invitational workshop is to provide a forum to discuss the use of econometric and other quantitative methods to address issues in health economics and policy, health services research, and outcomes research. An hour will be devoted to each of the papers selected for discussion (approx 9-10). A discussant will present the paper, followed by the author’s rebuttal and open discussion.

We invite papers that develop new methods, assess existing methods, or highlight the use of non-proprietary software that address topical issues in health economics and policy. Methods advancing the field of pharmaceutical economics are
encouraged. Papers will be chosen for their originality, innovativeness, and rigor. Cost of meals for invitees will be paid for by the conference. All other expenses, including hotel accommodations and transportation, are the participants’ responsibility.

Interested researchers should submit a full working paper by July 1, 2009, in PDF format to admin@healtheconometrics.org. Please: 1) Include “Annual Health Econometrics Workshop” in the subject line; 2) Identify main author who will present rebuttals to discussant; and 3) Include full contact information for main author and all other co-authors on the paper.

Submitted papers should be unpublished and not accepted for publication at a peer reviewed journal. Those invited to participate in the conference will be notified by August 1, 2009. Discussants for each paper will be selected with consent from the author.

For more information, visit http://www.healtheconometrics.org

Inaugural Organizing Committee:
* Anirban Basu, University of Chicago
* Paul Grootendorst, University of Toronto
* Willard Manning, University of Chicago
* John Mullahy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
* Edward Norton, University of Michigan

permalink October 2, 2009: Econometrics

October 12, 2009

An Introduction to Measuring Efficiency in Public Sector Organisations: Analytical techniques and policy: Workshop

Locations: Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK
Dates: 12th to 14th October 2009
Optional extra sessions: 14th to 15th October.

Workshop Presenters: Rowena Jacobs, Mauro Laudicella, Peter C. Smith and Andrew Street.

This intensive workshop will provide an introduction to the use of techniques for measuring the relative efficiency of public sector organisations. The two measurement tools concentrated on will be Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), which is a form of econometric model, and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which is a form of linear optimisation.

Areas to be covered include:

  • the context and purpose of productivity and efficiency measurement
  • the economic theories underpinning efficiency measurement techniques
  • how to conduct analysis
  • the similarities and differences between techniques
  • the interpretation and application of results to support policy objectives

The workshop will introduce participants to computer software (including Limdep, Stata, DEAP, and Frontier Analyst) with which they will be able to apply the techniques to data during practical sessions. Throughout the workshop there will be a strong focus on the policy interest in these techniques.

The presenters have worked extensively in this area and will guide participants through the potential pitfalls of measuring efficiency using case studies and practical examples.

Full details, including the registration form are at: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/che/training/measurecourse.htm

Each year there are improvements to this workshop, and for the first time we are offering optional additional sessions on how to analyse data about the individuals served by organisations, such as patients in hospitals or children in schools.

If you wish to attend this workshop, you are encouraged to consider registering early as places are limited, and workshops offered by the Centre for Health Economics are often oversubscribed.

If you know of others who might be interested in registering for this workshop, please this information to them.

For enquiries about this workshop, please contact: Gillian Robinson, Measuring Efficiency Workshop Administrator, at: gmr8@york.ac.uk; tel: +44 (0)1904 321436.

permalink October 12, 2009: Workshop

October 18, 2009

31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making

Location: Hollywood, California US
Dates: October 18 - 21, 2009
Abstract submission deadline: June 4, 2009

The SMDM Call for Abstracts for the 2009 Annual Meeting is now open. For more information, go to Call or access the site directly from http://www.smdm.org. The deadline for abstract submissions is June 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

permalink October 18, 2009: Meeting

Contact

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Tom GetzenExecutive Director and CEO
215-242-1196

Bill SwanDeputy CEO

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