MPH Health Policy & Management 3

Question 1

What is the purpose of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA)?

Accepted Answer

To analyze how a proposed policy or project may affect population health

Answer

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of clinical interventions

Answer

To assess individual patient health risks before surgery

Answer

To audit hospital compliance with safety regulations

Question 2

In health care finance, 'cost-shifting' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Charging privately insured patients higher prices to offset losses from Medicaid/Medicare underpayments

Answer

Moving budget line items between departments

Answer

Shifting program costs from state to federal governments

Answer

Billing patients for costs originally covered by insurance

Question 3

The primary purpose of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is to:

Accepted Answer

Require hospitals to screen and stabilize all patients regardless of ability to pay

Answer

Set minimum staffing levels in emergency departments

Answer

Mandate insurance coverage for emergency services

Answer

Regulate ambulance reimbursement rates

Question 4

What does a Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) determine?

Accepted Answer

The fixed payment a hospital receives for an inpatient admission based on diagnosis

Answer

Which physician is assigned to treat a patient

Answer

The appropriate length of stay for outpatient procedures

Answer

Whether a patient qualifies for Medicaid benefits

Question 5

'Administrative simplification' provisions in HIPAA were designed to:

Accepted Answer

Standardize electronic health care transactions to reduce administrative burden and costs

Answer

Reduce administrative staff in hospital billing departments

Answer

Simplify patient enrollment in federal health programs

Answer

Limit the number of insurance plans available on exchanges

Question 6

Which economic concept explains why markets for health care often fail without government intervention?

Accepted Answer

Information asymmetry between patients and providers

Answer

Supply and demand equilibrium

Answer

Price elasticity of health care services

Answer

Perfect competition among insurers