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 increasi ng because demand is
decreasing.”
b. “Health care costs are steadil y 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 decr ease.”
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 healt h care costs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating REF: p. 358
OBJ: Define economics and health care economics.
TOP: Intrinsic factors MSC: NC LEX®: Not applicable
,2. A nurse is educating a group of students about health care
economics. Whic h 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 qualit y care, the Affordable Care Act of 2010
a. reduced the number of patie nts 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 qualit y 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 fiscall y 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 minimall y on each patient.
ANS: C
Nurses can be fiscally responsible in many different ways. This
includes fiscal responsibilit y to the patient, such as assessing the
patient’s resources for purchasing medication. The nurse is also
expected to have fiscal responsibilit y 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 responsibilit y to the payer of care and practice
documenting thoroughl y 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 responsibil it y in
clinical practice. TOP: Fiscal responsibilit y 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 effect ive 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.
OBJ: Use a basic knowledge of health care economics to analyze
trends in the health care delivery system. TOP: Payer allocation
decisions
MSC: NC LEX®: Not applicable
6. The nurse has an adequate und erstanding of capital budget when
stating
a. “A capital budget is part of the expected expenses of the
unit.”
b. “A capital budget is used to purchase or replace equipment
costing more than $5000.”
c. “A capital budget is used to pay for nurses to work in the
hospital.”
d. “A capital budget is used to purchase lunch for employees.” .
ANS: B
The nurse has an adequate understanding of capital budget when the
nurse states that the budget “is used to purchase or replace equipment
costing more than $5000.” The capital budget is the beginning point of
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 increasi ng because demand is
decreasing.”
b. “Health care costs are steadil y 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 decr ease.”
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 healt h care costs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation/Evaluating REF: p. 358
OBJ: Define economics and health care economics.
TOP: Intrinsic factors MSC: NC LEX®: Not applicable
,2. A nurse is educating a group of students about health care
economics. Whic h 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 qualit y care, the Affordable Care Act of 2010
a. reduced the number of patie nts 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 qualit y 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 fiscall y 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 minimall y on each patient.
ANS: C
Nurses can be fiscally responsible in many different ways. This
includes fiscal responsibilit y to the patient, such as assessing the
patient’s resources for purchasing medication. The nurse is also
expected to have fiscal responsibilit y 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 responsibilit y to the payer of care and practice
documenting thoroughl y 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 responsibil it y in
clinical practice. TOP: Fiscal responsibilit y 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 effect ive 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.
OBJ: Use a basic knowledge of health care economics to analyze
trends in the health care delivery system. TOP: Payer allocation
decisions
MSC: NC LEX®: Not applicable
6. The nurse has an adequate und erstanding of capital budget when
stating
a. “A capital budget is part of the expected expenses of the
unit.”
b. “A capital budget is used to purchase or replace equipment
costing more than $5000.”
c. “A capital budget is used to pay for nurses to work in the
hospital.”
d. “A capital budget is used to purchase lunch for employees.” .
ANS: B
The nurse has an adequate understanding of capital budget when the
nurse states that the budget “is used to purchase or replace equipment
costing more than $5000.” The capital budget is the beginning point of
