Students study healthcare policy in Washington, D.C.

Thirteen students from SUNY Oneonta's School of Economics and Business and Political Science traveled to Washington D.C. over spring break for a health policy workshop on Medicaid, Medicare and the political debate on Universal Healthcare. They were accompanied by Dr. Kpoti Kitissou, Michelle Thibault and Dr. Gina Keel. The trip was part of Dr. Kitissou's special topics course on Health Economics. The workshop was coordinated by John Kaelin, Senior Advisor to the Centene Corporation (Class of 1977). Students had discussion sessions with a US House of Representatives member, a US Senate Finance Committee member, health policy staffers, health insurance companies and policy directors, and lobbyists. They also attended a House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee hearing and the Hill's Women in Congress event. The trip culminated with presentations from students on a research question on health economics or policy topic each developed over the week. An alumni event was held March 7, 2019, to complement the learning experience and provide networking opportunities for the participants.