Clinical Nurse Leader Exam Healthcare Finance & Economics

Question 1

A CNL reviewing the unit's cost per patient day notices a significant increase. Which factor is MOST likely within the CNL's scope to address?

Accepted Answer

Reducing supply waste through standardized care protocols and staff education

Answer

Renegotiating vendor contracts for medical supplies

Answer

Increasing the number of Medicare patients admitted

Answer

Lobbying for higher DRG reimbursement rates

Question 2

Which reimbursement model pays hospitals a fixed amount per Medicare discharge based on the patient's diagnosis, regardless of actual resource use?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment

Answer

Fee-for-service payment

Answer

Bundled payment arrangement

Answer

Capitation payment

Question 3

Under value-based purchasing, hospitals receive higher payments for:

Accepted Answer

Better performance on clinical outcomes, patient experience, and safety measures

Answer

Admitting more Medicare patients

Answer

Reducing nurse-to-patient ratios

Answer

Increasing specialty service lines

Question 4

A CNL is analyzing the cost-effectiveness of a new wound care protocol. Which type of analysis compares costs and health outcomes in natural units such as wound healing days?

Accepted Answer

Cost-effectiveness analysis

Answer

Cost-benefit analysis

Answer

Break-even analysis

Answer

Return on investment (ROI) analysis

Question 5

Which federal program penalizes hospitals with excess readmissions for conditions such as heart failure, pneumonia, and hip/knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP)

Answer

Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program

Answer

Meaningful Use incentive program

Answer

Medicare Advantage quality bonus program

Question 6

A CNL wants to build a business case for a new nurse-led transitional care clinic. Which data is MOST important to include?

Accepted Answer

Projected reduction in readmissions, associated cost savings, and program implementation costs

Answer

Number of nurses interested in working in the clinic

Answer

Comparison of nurse and physician salaries

Answer

Patient satisfaction scores from the inpatient unit