HSM 541 Week 4 Midterm

1. (TCO A) Briefly discuss how characteristics of individuals or populations may influence utilization of health services. Discuss how these characteristics impact access, costs, and quality. Use an example to support your point(s). (Points : 25) Question 2. 2. (TCO D) Describe two state or federal programs that provide health insurance benefits to a specific population. Detail at least two strategies used by either agency to manage access, costs, or quality. (Points : 20) Question 3. 3. (TCO D) Describe the characteristics and demographics of uninsured populations. Many countries striving to achieve universal health insurance coverage have done so by means of multiple health insurance funds covering different population groups. How ever, existence of multiple health insurance funds may also cause variation in access to health care, due to the differential revenue raising capacities and benefit packages offered by the various funds resulting in inequity and inefficiency w ithin the health system. Recent studies have suggested that factors related to the characteristics of communities could be important determinants of access to health care in addition to characteristics of individuals living in urban areas and the overall availability of health care services. Presently, there is considerable interest in geographical variations in health and the effect of context on health related problems. Studies on health behavior need to emphasize structural constraints as w ell as personal choices. Individuals are affected by the social, cultural, economic or physical factors acting at macro and micro levels. We have defined access as the opportunity to identify healthcare needs, to seek healthcare services, to reach, to obtain or use health care services and to actually have the need for services fulfilled. In addition, there is a need for more research examining the variability of access from both supply and demand-sides and looking at the influence of local health systems and patients’ characteristics.