Economics of the Health Care Delivery System (Chapter 16)

Chapter 16: Economics of the Health Care Delivery System MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which statement by the nurse indicates understanding of the major factors influencing the increase in health care costs? a. “Health care expenditures are exceeding the cost of the gross domestic product (GDP) in excess of 14%.” b. “Older adult patients consume more of the health care product than they can afford to finance.” c. “The cost of prescription drugs is soaring so rapidly that the majority of people cannot afford them.” d. “Because of the limited payment of Medicare, institutions are not being reimbursed at the same level of expenditures.” ANS: A Health care expenditures consume more than 16% of the GDP—the amount of money being spent exceeds the amount of money recompensed. The older adult population contributes to this situation because they require more health care as a result of chronic conditions. The cost of prescription drugs and the level of Medicare re￾imbursements also contribute to this problem. 8/21/18, 12'48 PM Chapter 16: Economics of the Health Care Delivery System | Nursing Test Banks Page 2 of 19 https://boostgrade.info/chapter-16-economics-of-the-health-care-delivery-system/ PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 356 OBJ: Compare the market of health care with the normal market for goods and services. TOP: Cost of health care MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable 2. A nurse is educating a coworker on the intrinsic factors and cost of health care. The nurse knows that the teaching has been effective when the coworker lists the following intrinsic factor as the major cause of in￾creased cost: a. Almost 10% of Americans over 65 years old are considered at or below the poverty level. b. The new medical technology available has increased the cost of health care. c. There are increasing labor costs in the total hospital spending budget. d. The staff nurse does not understand the responsibility of economics and money management. ANS: A A major intrinsic factor contributing to the high cost of health care is that an increasing number of Americans are over 65 years old, and a significant portion of this age group does not have the funds to obtain medical care. The US Census Bureau’s 2011 Supplemental Poverty Measure reports an even higher percentage, 15.1%. The other options listed are extrinsic factors—new medical technology, increasing labor costs, and lack of staff nurse understanding of fiscal responsibilities of the organization. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation REF: p. 356 OBJ:Use basic knowledge of health care economics to analyze trends in the health care delivery system.TOP:In￾trinsic factors for health care costs MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable 3. A nurse manager is preparing a presentation on health care economics for unit staff. How would the nurse 8/21/18, 12'48 PM Chapter 16: Economics of the Health Care Delivery System | Nursing Test Banks Page 3 of 19 https://boostgrade.info/chapter-16-economics-of-the-health-care-delivery-system/ manager explain the definition of economics as it relates to health care to the staff? a. Economics refers to how the health care system is going to care for the older segment of the population. b. Health care is a limited resource; economics refers to how this resource is going to be allocated. c. Health care economics refers to the budgeting and financial management of the institution providing the care. d. Economics is the balance of the utilization of health care services and the monies obtained for the services provided. ANS: B Economics is the allocation of scarce resources. Health care economics is the distribution of the limited re￾source of health care. Economics includes not only the older adult segment but all age groups. Economics is not about using health care services and the monies obtained but instead how they will be distributed. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Synthesis REF: p. 358 OBJ: Define economics and health care economics. TOP: Health care economics MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable 4. The nurse would identify which of the following as an example of a strategy that represents fiscally responsi￾ble clinical nursing practice? a. Begin discharge planning as soon as it is evident when a patient will be discharged. b. Encourage patients to consider being admitted the evening before a major surgical procedure. c. Use unlicensed personnel as much as possible in the delivery of nursing care. 8/21/18, 12'48 PM Chapter 16: Economics of the Health Care Delivery System | Nursing Test Banks Page 4 of 19 https://boostgrade.info/chapter-16-economics-of-the-health-care-delivery-system/ d. Accurately document the current status of a patient with regard to the patient’s ongoing needs. ANS: D Documentation that accurately reflects the current status of the patient is critical to the institution obtaining reimbursement for the care of the patient. For example, if there are “no problems” with a patient, then perhaps the patient could be cared for in a less expensive environment. Use of unlicensed personnel is important but only to the extent of their training, and this is not a relevant factor in a great deal of nursing care. Discharge planning considerations should begin when the patient is admitted and not left until the patient is about to be discharged. It would be unnecessary and costly to have the patient admitted the evening before surgery because this would cost an extra day of hospitalization. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 372 OBJ: Discuss strategies you will use to achieve fiscal responsibility in clinical practice. TOP: Fiscal responsibilities of nursing MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable 5. The nurse manager receives the budget variance report for the assigned nursing unit. What other critical information must the nurse manager consider to evaluate this report? a. Projection of costs in the operating budget b. The amount of money allocated to meet expected costs c. Figures on which a zero-based budget were determined d. Planning needs for unit staffing based on patient acuity