UPDATED PRACTICE SOLUTION BUNDLED
REVIEW SHEET TESTED ANSWERS
⩥ Why is costly technology frequently introduced into the health care
system?
Answer: Third-party insurance finances most of the cost of care,
reducing the sensitivity of consumers and providers to price.
⩥ What is the fastest-growing segment of pharmaceutical marketing?
Answer: Marketing directly to the consumer.
⩥ Define rent-seeking behavior in an economic context.
Answer: Rent-seeking is the act of manipulating public policy or
economic conditions to increase one's profit without creating new wealth
or adding value to society.
⩥ What is the primary purpose of the FDA in the pharmaceutical
industry?
Answer: To ensure the safety, efficacy, and security of human and
veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices.
,⩥ How does third-party insurance influence the adoption of expensive
medical technology?
Answer: Because patients and providers do not pay the full cost of
services, they are more likely to utilize expensive, high-tech
interventions that might otherwise be considered cost-prohibitive.
⩥ What is the role of a patent in the pharmaceutical industry?
Answer: It provides a legal monopoly for a set period, allowing the
company to recoup research and development costs before generic
competition is allowed.
⩥ What is direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical marketing?
Answer: A form of advertising that promotes prescription medications
directly to patients via media such as television, social media, and print,
rather than focusing solely on healthcare professionals.
⩥ Why is the aging U.S. population a factor in health care costs?
Answer: Older individuals typically require more frequent and complex
medical interventions, chronic disease management, and long-term care
services.
⩥ What is the impact of malpractice insurance on health care costs?
Answer: High malpractice insurance premiums contribute to overhead
costs for providers, which are often passed on to patients or insurers
through higher fees.
, ⩥ What is the relationship between medical technology and health care
outcomes?
Answer: While new technology often improves outcomes, it is also a
primary driver of cost inflation because it introduces new, expensive
treatment options that are widely adopted.
⩥ What are the economic consequences of monopoly status in drug
production?
Answer: It allows firms to set prices higher than they would be in a
competitive market, potentially limiting access for some patients while
incentivizing further innovation.
⩥ How did U.S. pharmaceutical innovation compare globally between
1940 and 1990?
Answer: U.S. firms were highly productive, accounting for 60 percent of
all new drug discoveries during that period.
⩥ Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Answer: A public health agency responsible for protecting American
consumers by enforcing federal laws regarding food, medicine, medical
devices, and cosmetics.
⩥ Return on sales