Healthcare Finance & Economics Flashcards
6 cards from real CNL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Healthcare Finance & Economics flashcards as text
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?
Answer: Reducing supply waste through standardized care protocols and staff education
Reducing supply waste through standardized protocols is a concrete, unit-level cost reduction strategy within the CNL's scope of practice.
Which reimbursement model pays hospitals a fixed amount per Medicare discharge based on the patient's diagnosis, regardless of actual resource use?
Answer: Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment
DRG-based prospective payment reimburses hospitals a predetermined rate per discharge, incentivizing efficiency and cost management.
Under value-based purchasing, hospitals receive higher payments for:
Answer: Better performance on clinical outcomes, patient experience, and safety measures
Value-based purchasing links Medicare payments to performance on quality, safety, and patient experience measures rather than volume alone.
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?
Answer: Cost-effectiveness analysis
Cost-effectiveness analysis compares the cost per unit of health outcome (such as days to healing), allowing comparison of interventions with similar goals.
Which federal program penalizes hospitals with excess readmissions for conditions such as heart failure, pneumonia, and hip/knee replacement?
Answer: Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP)
The HRRP reduces Medicare payments to hospitals with higher-than-expected 30-day readmission rates for specified conditions.
A CNL wants to build a business case for a new nurse-led transitional care clinic. Which data is MOST important to include?
Answer: Projected reduction in readmissions, associated cost savings, and program implementation costs
A business case must demonstrate financial return on investment by comparing projected cost savings from reduced readmissions against program costs.
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Sources & references
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- aacnnursing.org — Exam format, passing score, time limit, test delivery, test dates, eligibility, fees, retake fee, retake policy, score release · verified Oct 2026