MCAT HEALTH POLICY EXPERT EXAM
WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS (2026).
1. Which of the following best defines health policy?
A. A set of laws governing medical practice
B. Decisions, plans, and actions undertaken to achieve specific
health care goals Correct: Health policy encompasses decisions,
plans, and actions to achieve specific health outcomes, not just
laws or regulations.
C. Guidelines for hospital administration
D. Insurance reimbursement procedures
2. The primary goal of public health policy is:
A. Increase hospital profits
B. Reduce disease burden and promote population health Correct:
Public health policy aims to improve population health and
prevent disease.
C. Expand pharmaceutical sales
D. Standardize medical equipment
3. Health policies that focus on preventive measures rather than
treatment are called:
A. Curative policies
B. Preventive or upstream policies Correct: Preventive policies
focus on upstream interventions to prevent illness before it
occurs.
C. Reactive policies
D. Secondary care policies
,4. Which federal agency in the U.S. is primarily responsible for
health policy research?
A. CDC
B. NIH Correct: The NIH conducts health research and informs
policy-making with scientific evidence.
C. FDA
D. CMS
5. Evidence-based health policy refers to:
A. Policies based on historical practices
B. Policies informed by rigorous scientific research Correct:
Evidence-based policy uses current research and data to inform
decisions.
C. Policies recommended by lobbyists
D. Policies dictated by media trends
6. Which of the following is a key barrier to effective health policy
implementation?
A. Adequate funding
B. Political resistance Correct: Political resistance and conflicting
interests often hinder policy implementation.
C. Sufficient data
D. Public support
7. Which of the following is an example of a regulatory health
policy?
A. Medicare reimbursement
B. Tobacco control laws Correct: Regulatory policies set rules or
standards, such as banning smoking in public areas.
C. Health education campaigns
D. Community health grants
, 8. Health equity in policy aims to:
A. Ensure equal access to health services regardless of
socioeconomic status Correct: Health equity strives to reduce
disparities in access and outcomes.
B. Provide equal funding to all hospitals
C. Standardize medical education
D. Limit healthcare spending
9. The term “social determinants of health” refers to:
A. Genetic predispositions
B. Environmental, social, and economic factors affecting health
Correct: Social determinants like income, education, and housing
significantly impact health outcomes.
C. Hospital infrastructure
D. Disease surveillance methods
10. Health policy analysis involves:
A. Reviewing clinical trial data only
B. Systematically evaluating policies’ effects, costs, and outcomes
Correct: Policy analysis assesses effectiveness, efficiency, and
equity of health policies.
C. Implementing new hospital protocols
D. Lobbying for insurance coverage
11. Which U.S. legislation significantly expanded health
insurance coverage in 2010?
A. HIPAA
B. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Correct: The ACA expanded
insurance coverage and reformed healthcare delivery.
C. Medicare Act
D. Social Security Act
WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS (2026).
1. Which of the following best defines health policy?
A. A set of laws governing medical practice
B. Decisions, plans, and actions undertaken to achieve specific
health care goals Correct: Health policy encompasses decisions,
plans, and actions to achieve specific health outcomes, not just
laws or regulations.
C. Guidelines for hospital administration
D. Insurance reimbursement procedures
2. The primary goal of public health policy is:
A. Increase hospital profits
B. Reduce disease burden and promote population health Correct:
Public health policy aims to improve population health and
prevent disease.
C. Expand pharmaceutical sales
D. Standardize medical equipment
3. Health policies that focus on preventive measures rather than
treatment are called:
A. Curative policies
B. Preventive or upstream policies Correct: Preventive policies
focus on upstream interventions to prevent illness before it
occurs.
C. Reactive policies
D. Secondary care policies
,4. Which federal agency in the U.S. is primarily responsible for
health policy research?
A. CDC
B. NIH Correct: The NIH conducts health research and informs
policy-making with scientific evidence.
C. FDA
D. CMS
5. Evidence-based health policy refers to:
A. Policies based on historical practices
B. Policies informed by rigorous scientific research Correct:
Evidence-based policy uses current research and data to inform
decisions.
C. Policies recommended by lobbyists
D. Policies dictated by media trends
6. Which of the following is a key barrier to effective health policy
implementation?
A. Adequate funding
B. Political resistance Correct: Political resistance and conflicting
interests often hinder policy implementation.
C. Sufficient data
D. Public support
7. Which of the following is an example of a regulatory health
policy?
A. Medicare reimbursement
B. Tobacco control laws Correct: Regulatory policies set rules or
standards, such as banning smoking in public areas.
C. Health education campaigns
D. Community health grants
, 8. Health equity in policy aims to:
A. Ensure equal access to health services regardless of
socioeconomic status Correct: Health equity strives to reduce
disparities in access and outcomes.
B. Provide equal funding to all hospitals
C. Standardize medical education
D. Limit healthcare spending
9. The term “social determinants of health” refers to:
A. Genetic predispositions
B. Environmental, social, and economic factors affecting health
Correct: Social determinants like income, education, and housing
significantly impact health outcomes.
C. Hospital infrastructure
D. Disease surveillance methods
10. Health policy analysis involves:
A. Reviewing clinical trial data only
B. Systematically evaluating policies’ effects, costs, and outcomes
Correct: Policy analysis assesses effectiveness, efficiency, and
equity of health policies.
C. Implementing new hospital protocols
D. Lobbying for insurance coverage
11. Which U.S. legislation significantly expanded health
insurance coverage in 2010?
A. HIPAA
B. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Correct: The ACA expanded
insurance coverage and reformed healthcare delivery.
C. Medicare Act
D. Social Security Act
