A patient asks the nurse, What do health maintenance ...

[cnetterville]

A patient asks the nurse, What do health maintenance organizations (HMOs) do to reduce health care costs? The response giving the best example of an HMO cost-containment method would be
 
  a. HMOs pool individual contributions for use in catastrophic illness.
  b. HMOs provide supplemental coverage for items not covered by Medicare.
  c. HMOs use a retrospective payment system.
  d. HMOs provide services aimed at keeping members healthy.

Question 2

Which of the following constitutes a problem that affects data collected by the nurse interviewing an elderly, chronically ill patient? Many elderly who are covered only by Medicare Parts A and B find it difficult to pay the cost of
 
  a. hospital care for an acute short-term illness.
  b. prescription drugs while living at home.
  c. post-hospitalization rehabilitation services in a skilled nursing facility.
  d. doctor's office visits, Pap smears, and mammography.

[Loise Hard]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
HMOs attempt to reduce costs by providing services aimed at keeping members healthy, such as smoking cessation classes and weight loss programs. The other options are not factual statements.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Data collection should include medications prescribed for the patient and whether the patient is medication compliant. Often patients are without medication when funds are limited. The other costs mentioned in the remaining options are covered by Medicare Parts A and B.

[cnetterville]

Thank you

[Loise Hard]

Happy to help you