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What Is a Health Economist and How to Become One


What Does a Health Economist Do?

As a health economist, your job is to research and report on the economics of health care. This includes things like keeping track of patient outcomes and the cost to reach them, helping model the most cost-effective way to produce good results, and creating an assessment of each technique recommended by the industry. Health economists frequently leverage a variety of resources to accomplish this, including studying reports from other health care facilities and companies. Health economists frequently summarize and present findings to various interested groups, including boards of directors, insurance companies, federal regulators, and non-profit organizations that help patients pay for services.

How to Become a Health Economist

The primary qualifications for a health economist job are a master's degree in a relevant field and at least two years of experience. Many health economists use internships and work in lower-level roles before moving up to this position. Fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a health economist job requires a working knowledge of health economics development strategy, the ability to create and conduct study projects independently, and excellent communication skills. Health economics frequently involves a lot of statistics, so a math-heavy education heavy can help you stand out from other applicants. The ability to manage multiple complex projects is also essential to your success in this role.