Chapter 16: Economics in the Health Care
Delivery System
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The case manager is educating the nurse about health care costs. The case
manager knows that the education has been effective when the nurse states
a. “Health care costs are increasing because demand is decreasing.”
b. “Health care costs are steadily decreasing.”
c. “The aging population requires more health care services, causing the
costs to increase.”
d. “The aging population requires fewer health care services, causing the
costs to decrease.”
ANS: C
The case manager would know that the teaching was effective if the nurse states:
“Health care costs are continuing to increase because the aging population requires
more health care services.” The other statements are false regarding health care costs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating REF: p. 358 OBJ:
Define economics and health care economics.
TOP: Intrinsic factors MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
2. A nurse is educating a group of students about health care economics. Which
statement would the students make if the teaching were effective?
a. “Extrinsic factors include the cost of prescription drugs.”
b. “Extrinsic factors include the age of the population.”
c. “Extrinsic factors include the demand for health care.”.
, d. “Extrinsic factors include employer-paid health insurance.”
ANS: A
The nurse would know that the teaching was effective when the students states:
“Extrinsic factors include the cost of prescription drugs.” The other statements about
health care economics are false.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating
REF: p. 358 OBJ: Define economics and health care economics. TOP:
Intrinsic factors MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
3. To provide quality care, the Affordable Care Act of 2010
a. reduced the number of patients accepted into Medicaid.
b. kept the Medicaid system the same. .
c. made changes to slow growth in spending.
d. increased Medicaid spending to ensure adequate patient care.
ANS: C.
To provide quality care, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 made changes to slow
growth in spending. Other changes were aimed at improving Medicaid benefits and
improving delivery of care.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge/Remembering
REF: pp. 359-360 OBJ: Define economics and health care economics. TOP:
Intrinsic factors MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable.
4. What action can nurses take to be fiscally responsible?
a. Let patients determine if the cost of medications fits into their budget.
b. Allow nurses to work on the unit when the census drops.
c. Use proper hand hygiene.
d. Document minimally on each patient.
, ANS: C
Nurses can be fiscally responsible in many different ways. This includes fiscal
responsibility to the patient, such as assessing the patient’s resources for purchasing
medication. The nurse is also expected to have fiscal responsibility for the
organization. This includes sending nurses home or to another unit when the census
drops and using proper hand hygiene to prevent infections, which would result in
increased health care spending to treat. The nurse should also consider fiscal
responsibility to the payer of care and practice documenting thoroughly to show the
patients need for the care given.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge/Remembering
REF: p. 371
OBJ: Describe what is meant by the term fiscal responsibility in clinical
practice. TOP: Fiscal responsibility MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
5. A case manager is educating a patient on health care insurance. Which statement
by the patient shows that the teaching has been effective?
a. “All health care is covered by insurance.”
b. “Insurance does not cover inpatient hospital stays.”
c. “All health care coverage is the same.”
d. “All health insurance companies have rules about what services will be
covered.”
ANS: D.
The case manager will know that teaching has been effective when the patients states,
“All health insurance companies have rules about what services will be covered.”
Each insurance company is different and will provide different coverage depending
on the plan and the patient’s preexisting conditions.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating REF: p. 362.
Delivery System
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The case manager is educating the nurse about health care costs. The case
manager knows that the education has been effective when the nurse states
a. “Health care costs are increasing because demand is decreasing.”
b. “Health care costs are steadily decreasing.”
c. “The aging population requires more health care services, causing the
costs to increase.”
d. “The aging population requires fewer health care services, causing the
costs to decrease.”
ANS: C
The case manager would know that the teaching was effective if the nurse states:
“Health care costs are continuing to increase because the aging population requires
more health care services.” The other statements are false regarding health care costs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating REF: p. 358 OBJ:
Define economics and health care economics.
TOP: Intrinsic factors MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
2. A nurse is educating a group of students about health care economics. Which
statement would the students make if the teaching were effective?
a. “Extrinsic factors include the cost of prescription drugs.”
b. “Extrinsic factors include the age of the population.”
c. “Extrinsic factors include the demand for health care.”.
, d. “Extrinsic factors include employer-paid health insurance.”
ANS: A
The nurse would know that the teaching was effective when the students states:
“Extrinsic factors include the cost of prescription drugs.” The other statements about
health care economics are false.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating
REF: p. 358 OBJ: Define economics and health care economics. TOP:
Intrinsic factors MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
3. To provide quality care, the Affordable Care Act of 2010
a. reduced the number of patients accepted into Medicaid.
b. kept the Medicaid system the same. .
c. made changes to slow growth in spending.
d. increased Medicaid spending to ensure adequate patient care.
ANS: C.
To provide quality care, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 made changes to slow
growth in spending. Other changes were aimed at improving Medicaid benefits and
improving delivery of care.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge/Remembering
REF: pp. 359-360 OBJ: Define economics and health care economics. TOP:
Intrinsic factors MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable.
4. What action can nurses take to be fiscally responsible?
a. Let patients determine if the cost of medications fits into their budget.
b. Allow nurses to work on the unit when the census drops.
c. Use proper hand hygiene.
d. Document minimally on each patient.
, ANS: C
Nurses can be fiscally responsible in many different ways. This includes fiscal
responsibility to the patient, such as assessing the patient’s resources for purchasing
medication. The nurse is also expected to have fiscal responsibility for the
organization. This includes sending nurses home or to another unit when the census
drops and using proper hand hygiene to prevent infections, which would result in
increased health care spending to treat. The nurse should also consider fiscal
responsibility to the payer of care and practice documenting thoroughly to show the
patients need for the care given.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge/Remembering
REF: p. 371
OBJ: Describe what is meant by the term fiscal responsibility in clinical
practice. TOP: Fiscal responsibility MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
5. A case manager is educating a patient on health care insurance. Which statement
by the patient shows that the teaching has been effective?
a. “All health care is covered by insurance.”
b. “Insurance does not cover inpatient hospital stays.”
c. “All health care coverage is the same.”
d. “All health insurance companies have rules about what services will be
covered.”
ANS: D.
The case manager will know that teaching has been effective when the patients states,
“All health insurance companies have rules about what services will be covered.”
Each insurance company is different and will provide different coverage depending
on the plan and the patient’s preexisting conditions.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating REF: p. 362.
