Week 12-1: Health Care System & Delivery

What is equity in health services?

Fair access to quality healthcare regardless of income or social background.

Why are economically disadvantaged people often medically disadvantaged?

Because they have less access to quality healthcare in a free-market system without universal national insurance

What does “welfare medicine” mean?

Healthcare for poor individuals that is often separate and unequal in quality compared to care received by wealthier groups.

Why does access to healthcare not always mean equity in healthcare?

Because the quality, convenience, and dignity of care may differ across social classes.

What is a “medical desert”?

An area where hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers are limited or absent, especially in poor urban or rural communities.

Why do rural poor populations struggle with healthcare access?

Because hospitals and specialists may be far away or unavailable locally

What does geographic distribution of healthcare services refer to?

The uneven distribution of doctors, hospitals, and clinics across locations.

What are Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)?

Areas with shortages of physicians and healthcare providers.

Why are rural areas underserved medically?

Fewer doctors choose rural practice, and many rural hospitals face financial struggles and closures.

Why is primary care underrepresented in the U.S.?

Specialists earn more money and have higher prestige than primary care physicians.

Why do medical students often avoid primary care?

High student debt makes higher-paying specialties more attractive.

What is the built-in tension described by Turner (1988)?

The conflict between democratic equality and capitalist inequality.

Why does healthcare create tension in democracies?

Democracies value equal rights, but capitalism creates unequal access to goods and services.

What is the argument that healthcare is a right?

Society has an ethical obligation to guarantee healthcare for everyone.

What is the argument that healthcare is a privilege?

Healthcare should be purchased individually through the market system.

What challenge arises if healthcare is treated as a right?

Higher taxes, longer wait times, and increased bureaucracy.

What challenge arises if healthcare is treated as a privilege?

Uninsured individuals may delay treatment and experience severe financial hardship

Why can market-based healthcare increase inequality?

Lower-income individuals may be unable to afford insurance or treatment.

What are major strengths of the U.S. healthcare system?

• Medical innovation and technology

• High specialization and quality care

• Provider choice and flexibility

What are major weaknesses of the U.S. healthcare system?

• High costs

• Unequal access

• Health disparities

• Administrative complexity and waste

Why is the U.S. healthcare system considered inefficient?

It spends very high amounts but still has poorer health outcomes compared to many countries.

Why does the U.S. healthcare system have high administrative costs?

Because insurance and billing systems are fragmented and complex

What is equity in healthcare?

A. Equal insurance prices
B. Fair access to quality healthcare
C. Free care for physicians
D. Equal doctor salariesI’m

B. Fair access to quality healthcare

What does “welfare medicine” refer to?

A. Luxury healthcare
B. Separate and unequal healthcare for poorer populations
C. Military healthcare
D. Free private insurance

B. Separate and unequal healthcare for poorer populations

A “medical desert” is:

A. A hospital chain
B. A wealthy suburb
C. An area lacking healthcare providers
D. A private insurance company

C. An area lacking healthcare providers

Why do rural communities often have less healthcare access?

A. Too many specialists
B. Hospitals and providers are limited or closing
C. Lower healthcare demand
D. More government funding

B. Hospitals and providers are limited or closing

What are Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)?

A. Areas with too many hospitals
B. Areas lacking healthcare professionals
C. Areas with expensive insurance
D. Areas with universal healthcare

B. Areas lacking healthcare professionals

Why is primary care underrepresented in the U.S.?

A. Specialists earn less money
B. Primary care requires less education
C. Specialties offer higher income and prestige
D. Rural areas have too many doctors

C. Specialties offer higher income and prestige

What is the built-in tension described by Turner?

A. Tension between hospitals and insurance companies
B. Conflict between democratic equality and capitalist inequality
C. Conflict between doctors and patients
D. Tension between Medicare and Medicaid

B. Conflict between democratic equality and capitalist inequality

Supporters of healthcare as a right believe:

A. Healthcare should depend on income
B. Healthcare is an ethical obligation society should provide
C. Healthcare should only be employer-based
D. Government should avoid healthcare entirely

B. Healthcare is an ethical obligation society should provide

Supporters of healthcare as a privilege believe:

A. Healthcare should be universal
B. Healthcare should be purchased through the market
C. Healthcare should be free
D. Insurance should be eliminated

B. Healthcare should be purchased through the market

One challenge of healthcare as a right is:

A. No government involvement
B. Higher taxes and wait times
C. Too much specialization
D. Less healthcare access

B. Higher taxes and wait times

One challenge of healthcare as a privilege is:

A. Universal coverage
B. Long wait times only
C. Financial hardship for uninsured individuals
D. Too many doctors

C. Financial hardship for uninsured individuals

Which is considered a strength of the U.S. healthcare system?

A. Low costs
B. Universal coverage
C. Medical innovation and specialization
D. Simple insurance administration

C. Medical innovation and specialization

Which is considered a weakness of the U.S. healthcare system?

A. Too much equality
B. Administrative complexity and unequal access
C. Lack of technology
D. Too many primary care physicians

B. Administrative complexity and unequal access

Why is the U.S. healthcare system considered inefficient?

A. It spends little money
B. It has no specialists
C. High spending does not always produce better outcomes
D. Hospitals are government-owned

C. High spending does not always produce better outcomes