MPH Master of Public Health: Public Health & U.S. Health Care 2 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency is primarily responsible for tracking disease outbreaks and leading public health surveillance in the United States?
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Correct answer)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Correct answer: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC is the lead federal public health agency responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and health promotion.
Question 2: The concept of 'health equity' in public health primarily refers to:
- Equal distribution of health care facilities across states
- The absence of avoidable, unfair, or remediable differences in health outcomes (Correct answer)
- Equal insurance premiums for all citizens regardless of income
- Universal access to the same health care providers
Correct answer: The absence of avoidable, unfair, or remediable differences in health outcomes
Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, eliminating preventable disparities.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes 'primary prevention' in public health?
- Early detection of disease through screening programs
- Preventing disease before it occurs through interventions like vaccination (Correct answer)
- Reducing disability in those already diagnosed with a condition
- Rehabilitating individuals after acute illness
Correct answer: Preventing disease before it occurs through interventions like vaccination
Primary prevention aims to prevent disease onset before it occurs, such as through immunization, health education, or environmental controls.
Question 4: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established health insurance marketplaces primarily to:
- Replace Medicare and Medicaid entirely
- Allow states to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers
- Provide a platform where individuals can compare and purchase insurance plans (Correct answer)
- Mandate employer-sponsored insurance for all workers
Correct answer: Provide a platform where individuals can compare and purchase insurance plans
ACA marketplaces (exchanges) enable individuals and small businesses to shop for, compare, and enroll in health insurance plans.
Question 5: Which determinant of health has historically had the GREATEST influence on population health outcomes?
- Quality of clinical care received
- Genetic predispositions
- Social and economic factors (Correct answer)
- Individual health behaviors alone
Correct answer: Social and economic factors
Research consistently shows that social determinantsâincome, education, housing, and environmentâaccount for the largest share of health outcomes.
Question 6: In the U.S. health care system, what does the term 'fee-for-service' (FFS) payment mean?
- Providers receive a fixed monthly payment per enrolled patient
- Providers are paid a separate fee for each service or procedure performed (Correct answer)
- Patients pay a flat fee for unlimited services within a year
- Insurers pay providers based on quality outcomes only
Correct answer: Providers are paid a separate fee for each service or procedure performed
Under FFS, each individual service, test, or procedure generates a separate payment to the provider, regardless of health outcomes.
Question 7: Which law mandates that hospitals provide emergency medical care to anyone regardless of their ability to pay?
- Hill-Burton Act
- Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) (Correct answer)
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Social Security Act, Title XVIII
Correct answer: Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
EMTALA, passed in 1986, requires Medicare-participating hospitals with emergency departments to provide stabilizing treatment to all patients regardless of payment status.
MPH Master of Public Health: Public Health & U.S. Health Care 2
Which federal agency is primarily responsible for tracking disease outbreaks and leading public health surveillance in the United States?