ATI RN
Economic Foundation of the US Healthcare Delivery System Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which statement best describes what happened to health care providers during the Great Depression?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: With 25% of the population out of work, the number of patients capable of paying their medical bills was reduced. Because public financing was limited, hospitals, physicians, and other providers went bankrupt. Because hospitals and physicians were going bankrupt, there was no way to increase charity care or services for those in need.
Question 2 of 5
Which statement best describes the message that public health leaders are trying to emphasize to the public?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Although there are many public health messages in the media, from quitting smoking to getting a checkup, the primary message currently being emphasized by public health, as well as all the media coverage of the constantly increasing cost for health care, is for each person to take responsibility for his or her own health through choosing healthy lifestyle behaviors. Supporting legislative efforts is not as important as the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own health.
Question 3 of 5
Which best describes how having health insurance has affected lifestyle behaviors?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Funding for behavioral changes is limited, inadequate, or unavailable. Weight loss programs or smoking cessation programs are not reimbursable treatment regimens although more expensive pharmaceutical interventions are reimbursable. Therefore, it is financially wise not to worry until illness strikes because illness care is reimbursable, whereas preventive health care is not.
Question 4 of 5
Which conclusion can be drawn from reviewing how health care costs are spread over a person's lifetime?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Health care expenditures increase with age, dramatically so at older ages.
Question 5 of 5
Which best describes a current trend related to health care services?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There is a national shift from nonprofit health care to for-profit health care as large for-profit organizations take over smaller community organizations. Because emphasis is on profit, mechanisms of achieving higher reimbursement have been developed. Coding of the patient's illness from the CPT codes determines reimbursement. Use of computerized medical record programs almost ensures that service can be reimbursed at the highest rate possible. This has changed health care practices to the use of services that are low in cost and higher in reimbursement. High-cost services are limited or not offered.