HSA 408 CH. 1-7 MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Federal and state policy and law shape what? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-virtually all aspects of the
healthcare system from structure and organization to service delivery, to financing, to administrative
and judicial oversight.
True or False.
Policy and Law are both vital in achieving both everyday and landmark public health improvements. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-True.
Choices made by policymakers and decisions handed down through the judicial system influence how
we what? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-approach, experience analyze and research all of these and other
specific aspects of the healthcare system.
What are some of the policy and law in healthcare/public topics? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-advertising
and marketing of health services and products.
-healthcare contracting
employment issues.
-patents
-taxation
-healthcare discrimination/disparities.
-consumer protection.
-bioterrorism
-health insurance
-prescription drug regulation.
What is one main focus of policy and law in the realm of public health? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
locating the appropriate balance between public regulation of private individuals and corporations and
the ability of those same parties to exercise rights that allow them to function free of overly intrusive
government intervention.
,The competing interests at the heart of public health are mainly addressed through two types of policies
and laws such as what? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-those that define the functions and powers of public
health agencies and those that aim to directly protect and promote health.
There are multiple ways to conceptualize the many important topics that fall under the umbrella of
health policy and law, what are the three frameworks? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-1) topical domains of
health policy and law.
-2) prevailing historical factors.
-3) focused on the individuals and entities impacted by a particular policy or legal determination.
Describe the first conceptual framework is reserved for policy and law concerns in what area? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-healthcare
-public health: issues arising.
-bioethics: controversies in the field.
Describe the second conceptual framework is reserved for policy and law concerns in what area? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-historical terms based on the social, political, and economic views that
dominate a particular era.
-health policy & law have been influenced over time by three perspectives: professional autonomy,
social contract and free market.
Describe the third conceptual framework is reserved for policy and law concerns in what area? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-in terms of the stakeholders whose interests are impacted by certain policy
choices or by the passage/interpretation of a law.
-examples: patients, healthcare providers, governments, the public, manager care, traditional insurance
companies, employers, the pharmaceutical industry, the medical device industry, the research
community, interest groups and others all may have a strong interest in various policies or laws under
debate.
Describe the concepts of policy and policymaking. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
Describe the basic function, structure, and powers of the legislative branch of government. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅-
,Describe the basic function, structure, and powers of the executive branch of government. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅-
Explain the role of federal and state governments in the policymaking process. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
Explain the role of interest groups in the policymaking process. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
Define Policy. (defined in many different ways) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-authoritative decisions made in
the legislative, executive or judicial branches of government that are intended to direct or influence the
actions, behaviors and decisions of others.
-a course of action adopted and pursued by a government, party, statesman, or other individual or
organization.
-authoritative decisions and guidelines that direct human behavior toward specific goals either in the
private or the public sector.
Who makes policy? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Private actors.
-Government (federal, state, local).
-Authoritative decisionmakers.
Examples: private employers, commercial insurance companies, influential individuals.
Describe the public policymaking structure and process. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅refers to the various
branches of government and the individuals and entities within each branch that play a role in making
and implementing policy decisions.
-we review the structure, powers and constituency of these branches with a focus on the U.S House of
Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and various commissions and agencies that assist Congress, the
President, White House staff, and federal executive branch administrative agencies.
Describe the Public Policy Problems. (Pg. 12). - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-beyond individual concerns.
-determining if a "decision" represents a "policy".
-regardless of whether the policymaker is a public or private figure, it is necessary that the decision
being made is an "authoritative decision".
, True or False:
The key issue to determining whether a "decision" represents a "policy" is whether the question at hand
is an individual concern or a public policy problem. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-True.
A public policy problem goes beyond the individual sphere and affects the greater community, whereas
an individual might decide to what ______________________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅to take
advantage of employer-sponsored health insurance.
-a public policy question is whether all employers should be required to offer health insurance to their
employees whereas an individual might decided to purchase a generic drug to save money.
-focus is not only on who is making a decision but also on what kind of decision is being made.
Describe the Structuring Policy options. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Some are voluntary whereas others
are mandatory.
-it is important to recognize that authoritative decisions do not always require others to act or refrain
from acting a certain way.
-some of the most important & effective policies are those that provide incentives to others to change
their behavior.
The power of persuasion is very important to public officials, particularly those working for who ? Why?
- CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-the federal government
-which is limited in its ability to force states & individuals to take certain actions.
-this limitation stems from the fact that the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitution limits Congress &
the Executive branch to specific powers and reserves all other powers for the states.
The power to ______________ enables Congress to establish executive branch public health agencies
and to allocate public health-specific funds to states and localities. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Spend
Which of the following directs the correct authorizing committee to make changes in the law for
mandatory spending programs to meet budgetary goals? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Reconciliation
instructions.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Federal and state policy and law shape what? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-virtually all aspects of the
healthcare system from structure and organization to service delivery, to financing, to administrative
and judicial oversight.
True or False.
Policy and Law are both vital in achieving both everyday and landmark public health improvements. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-True.
Choices made by policymakers and decisions handed down through the judicial system influence how
we what? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-approach, experience analyze and research all of these and other
specific aspects of the healthcare system.
What are some of the policy and law in healthcare/public topics? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-advertising
and marketing of health services and products.
-healthcare contracting
employment issues.
-patents
-taxation
-healthcare discrimination/disparities.
-consumer protection.
-bioterrorism
-health insurance
-prescription drug regulation.
What is one main focus of policy and law in the realm of public health? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
locating the appropriate balance between public regulation of private individuals and corporations and
the ability of those same parties to exercise rights that allow them to function free of overly intrusive
government intervention.
,The competing interests at the heart of public health are mainly addressed through two types of policies
and laws such as what? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-those that define the functions and powers of public
health agencies and those that aim to directly protect and promote health.
There are multiple ways to conceptualize the many important topics that fall under the umbrella of
health policy and law, what are the three frameworks? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-1) topical domains of
health policy and law.
-2) prevailing historical factors.
-3) focused on the individuals and entities impacted by a particular policy or legal determination.
Describe the first conceptual framework is reserved for policy and law concerns in what area? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-healthcare
-public health: issues arising.
-bioethics: controversies in the field.
Describe the second conceptual framework is reserved for policy and law concerns in what area? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-historical terms based on the social, political, and economic views that
dominate a particular era.
-health policy & law have been influenced over time by three perspectives: professional autonomy,
social contract and free market.
Describe the third conceptual framework is reserved for policy and law concerns in what area? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-in terms of the stakeholders whose interests are impacted by certain policy
choices or by the passage/interpretation of a law.
-examples: patients, healthcare providers, governments, the public, manager care, traditional insurance
companies, employers, the pharmaceutical industry, the medical device industry, the research
community, interest groups and others all may have a strong interest in various policies or laws under
debate.
Describe the concepts of policy and policymaking. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
Describe the basic function, structure, and powers of the legislative branch of government. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅-
,Describe the basic function, structure, and powers of the executive branch of government. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅-
Explain the role of federal and state governments in the policymaking process. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
Explain the role of interest groups in the policymaking process. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-
Define Policy. (defined in many different ways) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-authoritative decisions made in
the legislative, executive or judicial branches of government that are intended to direct or influence the
actions, behaviors and decisions of others.
-a course of action adopted and pursued by a government, party, statesman, or other individual or
organization.
-authoritative decisions and guidelines that direct human behavior toward specific goals either in the
private or the public sector.
Who makes policy? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Private actors.
-Government (federal, state, local).
-Authoritative decisionmakers.
Examples: private employers, commercial insurance companies, influential individuals.
Describe the public policymaking structure and process. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅refers to the various
branches of government and the individuals and entities within each branch that play a role in making
and implementing policy decisions.
-we review the structure, powers and constituency of these branches with a focus on the U.S House of
Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and various commissions and agencies that assist Congress, the
President, White House staff, and federal executive branch administrative agencies.
Describe the Public Policy Problems. (Pg. 12). - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-beyond individual concerns.
-determining if a "decision" represents a "policy".
-regardless of whether the policymaker is a public or private figure, it is necessary that the decision
being made is an "authoritative decision".
, True or False:
The key issue to determining whether a "decision" represents a "policy" is whether the question at hand
is an individual concern or a public policy problem. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-True.
A public policy problem goes beyond the individual sphere and affects the greater community, whereas
an individual might decide to what ______________________. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅to take
advantage of employer-sponsored health insurance.
-a public policy question is whether all employers should be required to offer health insurance to their
employees whereas an individual might decided to purchase a generic drug to save money.
-focus is not only on who is making a decision but also on what kind of decision is being made.
Describe the Structuring Policy options. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Some are voluntary whereas others
are mandatory.
-it is important to recognize that authoritative decisions do not always require others to act or refrain
from acting a certain way.
-some of the most important & effective policies are those that provide incentives to others to change
their behavior.
The power of persuasion is very important to public officials, particularly those working for who ? Why?
- CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-the federal government
-which is limited in its ability to force states & individuals to take certain actions.
-this limitation stems from the fact that the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitution limits Congress &
the Executive branch to specific powers and reserves all other powers for the states.
The power to ______________ enables Congress to establish executive branch public health agencies
and to allocate public health-specific funds to states and localities. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Spend
Which of the following directs the correct authorizing committee to make changes in the law for
mandatory spending programs to meet budgetary goals? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-Reconciliation
instructions.
