HPM Midterm Exam UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Approximate percent of U.S. G.D.P. spent on health care - CORRECT ANSWER A
sixth, soon to be a fifth
How U.S. compares to other high-income countries in overall health care spending and
administrative costs associated with health care spending (higher vs. lower) - CORRECT
ANSWER US healthcare spending is over twice the average of other wealthy countries
Administrative costs, including billing, insurance, and compliance, are a major driver of high
U.S. health spending
Distinguish between public policy vs. private policy - CORRECT ANSWER Public
policy: Created by government (laws, regulations, Affordable Care Act).
Private policy: Created by private entities (insurance company rules like prior authorization).
Examples of the president's role in health policymaking - CORRECT
ANSWER Propose legislation
Sign or veto laws
Appoint agency leaders
Issue executive orders
Shape federal agency priorities
Agenda: Puts issues on the national agenda, course of action
Key agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services - CORRECT
ANSWER - Center for Medicare and medicaid services (CMS)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC)
- National institute of health (NIH)
- Health resources and service administration (HRSA)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
, Match different types of Americans (e.g., worker, senior) with the type of health insurance in
which they would enroll - CORRECT ANSWER Senior (65+): Medicare
Low-income adult: Medicaid
Worker: Medicaid or employee insurance
Approximate uninsured and underinsured rates - CORRECT ANSWER Uninsured: ~8-
10%
Underinsured: ~20%
Relationship between the OBBBA and the uninsured rate - CORRECT
ANSWER Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) increased
administrative burdens (work requirements), causing hospital closures and higher uninsured
rates.
Core components of Affordable Care Act - CORRECT ANSWER - Elimination of
lifetime limits on coverage
- Restrictions on annual limits on coverage
- All individual and group health plans must provide coverage to any applicant
- Creation of a new insurance exchange through which to purchase plans
- All groups and individual health plans must provide a summary of benefits to applicants and
enrollees
- Private health insurance plans must provide coverage for health services and additional
services
- Extend dependent coverage to young adults up to age 26
- Incentivizes medicaid expansion
Laws as structural drivers of health - CORRECT ANSWER Laws shape access to care,
insurance eligibility, discrimination protections, and public health conditions.
Ways that politics interferes with following the science of public health - CORRECT
ANSWER - Politics determines policies
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Approximate percent of U.S. G.D.P. spent on health care - CORRECT ANSWER A
sixth, soon to be a fifth
How U.S. compares to other high-income countries in overall health care spending and
administrative costs associated with health care spending (higher vs. lower) - CORRECT
ANSWER US healthcare spending is over twice the average of other wealthy countries
Administrative costs, including billing, insurance, and compliance, are a major driver of high
U.S. health spending
Distinguish between public policy vs. private policy - CORRECT ANSWER Public
policy: Created by government (laws, regulations, Affordable Care Act).
Private policy: Created by private entities (insurance company rules like prior authorization).
Examples of the president's role in health policymaking - CORRECT
ANSWER Propose legislation
Sign or veto laws
Appoint agency leaders
Issue executive orders
Shape federal agency priorities
Agenda: Puts issues on the national agenda, course of action
Key agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services - CORRECT
ANSWER - Center for Medicare and medicaid services (CMS)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC)
- National institute of health (NIH)
- Health resources and service administration (HRSA)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
, Match different types of Americans (e.g., worker, senior) with the type of health insurance in
which they would enroll - CORRECT ANSWER Senior (65+): Medicare
Low-income adult: Medicaid
Worker: Medicaid or employee insurance
Approximate uninsured and underinsured rates - CORRECT ANSWER Uninsured: ~8-
10%
Underinsured: ~20%
Relationship between the OBBBA and the uninsured rate - CORRECT
ANSWER Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) increased
administrative burdens (work requirements), causing hospital closures and higher uninsured
rates.
Core components of Affordable Care Act - CORRECT ANSWER - Elimination of
lifetime limits on coverage
- Restrictions on annual limits on coverage
- All individual and group health plans must provide coverage to any applicant
- Creation of a new insurance exchange through which to purchase plans
- All groups and individual health plans must provide a summary of benefits to applicants and
enrollees
- Private health insurance plans must provide coverage for health services and additional
services
- Extend dependent coverage to young adults up to age 26
- Incentivizes medicaid expansion
Laws as structural drivers of health - CORRECT ANSWER Laws shape access to care,
insurance eligibility, discrimination protections, and public health conditions.
Ways that politics interferes with following the science of public health - CORRECT
ANSWER - Politics determines policies
