WGU Healthcare Policy Assessment QUESTION
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE |
PRACTICE TEST
,WGU Healthcare Policy Assessment: 100 Questions
1. Which branch of the U.S. federal government is primarily responsible for creating statutory law?
A. Executive
B. Judicial
C. Legislative
D. Administrative
Answer: C
Rationale: The Legislative branch (Congress) writes and passes bills that become statutory law. The Executive branch
enforces laws, and the Judicial branch interprets them.
2. A nurse is advocating for a new state law requiring mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios. Which type of policy is this?
A. Regulatory policy
B. Allocative policy
C. Distributive policy
D. Redistributive policy
,Answer: A
Rationale: Regulatory policy is designed to control or direct the actions of individuals or organizations. Mandatory ratios
regulate hospital staffing.
3. What is the primary role of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)?
A. To conduct biomedical research
B. To regulate pharmaceutical prices
C. To administer major federal healthcare programs
D. To provide direct patient care in underserved areas
Answer: C
Rationale: CMS administers Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. It does not conduct
research (NIH) or directly provide care.
4. Which of the following is an example of a "safety net" hospital?
A. A private for-profit specialty surgical center
B. A public hospital that provides care regardless of ability to pay
C. A veterans' hospital
D. A long-term care facility
, Answer: B
Rationale: Safety net hospitals are those that provide a significant level of care to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable
populations, often with a legal mandate to provide care regardless of ability to pay.
5. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid eligibility primarily through which mechanism?
A. Federal mandates on private insurers
B. State option with federal funding
C. Direct federal enrollment
D. Tax credits for employers
Answer: B
Rationale: The ACA initially mandated expansion, but the Supreme Court made it a state option. States that expand
receive enhanced federal funding.
6. What is the key difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
A. Medicare is state-funded; Medicaid is federally-funded.
B. Medicare is for low-income individuals; Medicaid is for the elderly.
C. Medicare is a federal program for those over 65 or with disabilities; Medicaid is a joint federal-state program for low-
income individuals.
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE |
PRACTICE TEST
,WGU Healthcare Policy Assessment: 100 Questions
1. Which branch of the U.S. federal government is primarily responsible for creating statutory law?
A. Executive
B. Judicial
C. Legislative
D. Administrative
Answer: C
Rationale: The Legislative branch (Congress) writes and passes bills that become statutory law. The Executive branch
enforces laws, and the Judicial branch interprets them.
2. A nurse is advocating for a new state law requiring mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios. Which type of policy is this?
A. Regulatory policy
B. Allocative policy
C. Distributive policy
D. Redistributive policy
,Answer: A
Rationale: Regulatory policy is designed to control or direct the actions of individuals or organizations. Mandatory ratios
regulate hospital staffing.
3. What is the primary role of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)?
A. To conduct biomedical research
B. To regulate pharmaceutical prices
C. To administer major federal healthcare programs
D. To provide direct patient care in underserved areas
Answer: C
Rationale: CMS administers Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. It does not conduct
research (NIH) or directly provide care.
4. Which of the following is an example of a "safety net" hospital?
A. A private for-profit specialty surgical center
B. A public hospital that provides care regardless of ability to pay
C. A veterans' hospital
D. A long-term care facility
, Answer: B
Rationale: Safety net hospitals are those that provide a significant level of care to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable
populations, often with a legal mandate to provide care regardless of ability to pay.
5. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid eligibility primarily through which mechanism?
A. Federal mandates on private insurers
B. State option with federal funding
C. Direct federal enrollment
D. Tax credits for employers
Answer: B
Rationale: The ACA initially mandated expansion, but the Supreme Court made it a state option. States that expand
receive enhanced federal funding.
6. What is the key difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
A. Medicare is state-funded; Medicaid is federally-funded.
B. Medicare is for low-income individuals; Medicaid is for the elderly.
C. Medicare is a federal program for those over 65 or with disabilities; Medicaid is a joint federal-state program for low-
income individuals.
