1. A patient is admitted to the hospital with a chronic illness that requires
long-term medication management. Which healthcare policy best supports
medication adherence for low-income patients?
- A) High deductible health plans
- B) Value-based insurance design
- C) Fee-for-service models
- D) Capitation models
Answer: B) Value-based insurance design
Rationale: Value-based insurance design aims to reduce barriers to
essential services by lowering costs for high-value treatments, which can
improve medication adherence among low-income patients.
2. In evaluating the economic impact of a new public health initiative,
which measure would best reflect the cost-effectiveness of the program?
- A) Total program cost
- B) Cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY)
- C) Number of patients served
- D) Reduction in disease incidence
Answer: B) Cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY)
Rationale: Cost per QALY is a standard measure used to assess the
value of medical interventions, considering both the cost and the quality of
life outcomes.
3. A healthcare economist is analyzing the trend of increasing healthcare
costs. Which factor is most likely contributing to this trend?
- A) Decreased utilization of primary care services
- B) Increased generic drug use
- C) Aging population and prevalence of chronic diseases
- D) Decreased hospital readmission rates
Answer: C) Aging population and prevalence of chronic diseases
Rationale: An aging population and the increased prevalence of chronic
diseases contribute significantly to rising healthcare costs due to the need
for ongoing, often complex, healthcare services.
4. When considering reforms to improve the efficiency of healthcare
delivery, which model emphasizes the alignment of provider incentives
with patient health outcomes?