Call to Submit Abstracts for Pre-Congress Session: Frontiers of Health Economics Research in Latin America
12th World Congress in Health Economics, Boston 8-11 July, 2017

Session Date: Saturday 8 July, 2017
Venue: Boston University, Boston, MA
Submission Deadline: Monday 30 January, 2017

Background:
In the past decades, many Latin American countries introduced reforms aimed at strengthening health systems and universalizing access to health care. Some of these reforms have taken the route of regulating and extending coverage to beneficiaries covered by social insurance. Others have opted for national health systems. Still, a considerable number of individuals remain without access to care either due to economic or geographic barriers. At the same time, epidemiological and demographic changes (higher prevalence of chronic diseases, aging populations), together with increased health care costs and weak incentives, raise further challenges that need to be addressed. In this context, more research and collaboration among scholars from LAC countries is needed to share knowledge from past experiences and provide insight that may inform health policy decisions and contribute to build stronger health systems.
 
Objective:
The aim of this pre-congress workshop is to bring together research economists working on LAC-related health issues in order to build a community of practice that may help promote quality research in health economics in LAC and contribute towards stronger health systems. The workshop is also directed at researchers from the international academia whose research could permeate LAC health issues or who may develop an interest if exposed to the region’s affairs.
 
Topics:
We are currently accepting abstract submissions for the workshop around issues such as health promotion and prevention, behavioral economics and health, provider competition, provider choice, mixed private-public health care systems, market regulation and incentives, human resources, mental health, national, social and private insurance, risk adjustment, high cost drugs, long term care, and policy evaluation and assessment. Research could be directly or indirectly related to Latin America’s health issues.  Both theoretical and empirical contributions are welcome.  
 
Relevant information:
•	The workshop will take place on Saturday 8 July, 2017 at Boston University, Boston, MA, prior to IHEA’s World Congress.
•	Each paper will have 30 minutes for presentation, followed by a 10 minute discussion by nominated discussants. Rodrigo Soares from Columbia University will be giving the keynote talk.
•	The Latin American Development Bank (CAF) will provide airfare and accommodation (2 nights stay) for all presenters. Presenters will be expected to release their paper as part of CAF’s working papers series. If for some reason this would be a problem, exceptions might be considered.
•	Abstracts need to be submitted by January 30, 2017 with decisions from the organizers by February 28, 2017.

Submit Abstract HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ6TC9M
 
Scientific committee: Ana Balsa (Universidad de Montevideo), David Bishai (Johns Hopkins University), Dolores de la Mata (CAF), Jeffrey Harris (MIT), Rodrigo Soares (Columbia University), Patricia Triunfo (Universidad de la República).  
 
For any questions regarding this session please contact Ana Balsa ([log in para visualizar]).