HLSA 601 Health Policy and Health Care Systems - Key Terms (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key health policy concepts (Triple Aim, Iron Triangle, access/cost/quality, health system structures) and major medical-technology milestones discussed in the lecture notes.

Triple Aim

A framework by Berwick, Nolan, and Whittington aiming to (1) improve the patient experience of care, (2) improve the health of populations, and (3) reduce the per-capita cost of health care.

Iron Triangle of Health Care Policy

A model describing the trade-offs among access, cost, and quality; improving one aspect often affects the others.

Access

The ability to obtain timely, appropriate health care services.

Cost

The resources and expenditures required to deliver health care; includes price and total spending.

Quality

The standard of care outcomes, safety, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction in health care.

National Health Insurance (NHI)

A proposal for universal health coverage financed by a government-run insurance program that covers all residents.

Single-payer

A system in which a single public or quasi-public entity pays for all health care costs.

Multi-payer

A system with multiple insurers (public and/or private) paying for health care.

Medicare

U.S. federal program established in 1965 providing health insurance for people aged 65+ and certain disabled individuals.

Medicaid

U.S. federal-state program established in 1965 providing health coverage for low-income individuals.

Socialized Medicine

Opposition term describing government-run or compulsory health insurance in public debate.

Kerr-Mills Act

Early federal initiative aimed at expanding health insurance access; ultimately did not achieve universal coverage.

Wagner-Murray-Dingell Act

1943–44 efforts to incorporate national health insurance into Social Security; not enacted.

1965 Medicare and Medicaid

Landmark legislation creating two major public health insurance programs: Medicare (elderly/disabled) and Medicaid (low-income).

1964 Surgeon General's Smoking Report

seminal public health report identifying the risks of smoking and spurring health policy action.

911 Emergency Number

The nationwide emergency telephone number introduced in 1968 to connect callers to emergency services.

1967 First Human Heart Transplantation

The first successful transplantation of a human heart.

Mass Screening and Education on Hypertension (1970)

Public health campaign focusing on screening and education for hypertension.

First Cardiac CT Scan (1977)

The introduction of computed tomography imaging of the heart.

First Coronary Angioplasty (1977)

The first percutaneous procedure to open a narrowed coronary artery.

Cardiac MRI (1983)

Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging for cardiac structures and function.

First Coronary Stent (1986)

Implantation of a stent to keep a coronary artery open.

Thrombolytic/Clot-busting Drugs (1987)

Drugs used to dissolve clots in acute cardiovascular events.

da Vinci Robotic System (2000)

Robotic-assisted system enabling precision, minimally invasive surgery.

3D-Printed Heart Models (2012)

Use of 3D printing to create patient-specific heart models for surgical planning.

PCSK9 Inhibitors (2015)

A class of cholesterol-lowering drugs approved for reducing LDL levels and cardiovascular risk.

Triple Aim

A framework by Berwick, Nolan, and Whittington aiming to (1) improve the patient experience of care, (2) improve the health of populations, and (3) reduce the per-capita cost of health care.

Iron Triangle of Health Care Policy

A model describing the trade-offs among access, cost, and quality; improving one aspect often affects the others.

Access

The ability to obtain timely, appropriate health care services.

Cost

The resources and expenditures required to deliver health care; includes price and total spending.

Quality

The standard of care outcomes, safety, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction in health care.

National Health Insurance (NHI)

A proposal for universal health coverage financed by a government-run insurance program that covers all residents.

Single-payer

A system in which a single public or quasi-public entity pays for all health care costs.

Multi-payer

A system with multiple insurers (public and/or private) paying for health care.

Medicare

U.S. federal program established in 1965 providing health insurance for people aged 65+ and certain disabled individuals.

Medicaid

U.S. federal-state program established in 1965 providing health coverage for low-income individuals.

Socialized Medicine

Opposition term describing government-run or compulsory health insurance in public debate.

Kerr-Mills Act

Early federal initiative aimed at expanding health insurance access; ultimately did not achieve universal coverage.

Wagner-Murray-Dingell Act

1943–44 efforts to incorporate national health insurance into Social Security; not enacted.

1965 Medicare and Medicaid

Landmark legislation creating two major public health insurance programs: Medicare (elderly/disabled) and Medicaid (low-income).

1964 Surgeon General's Smoking Report

seminal public health report identifying the risks of smoking and spurring health policy action.

911 Emergency Number

The nationwide emergency telephone number introduced in 1968 to connect callers to emergency services.

1967 First Human Heart Transplantation

The first successful transplantation of a human heart.

Mass Screening and Education on Hypertension (1970)

Public health campaign focusing on screening and education for hypertension.

First Cardiac CT Scan (1977)

The introduction of computed tomography imaging of the heart.

First Coronary Angioplasty (1977)

The first percutaneous procedure to open a narrowed coronary artery.

Cardiac MRI (1983)

Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging for cardiac structures and function.

First Coronary Stent (1986)

Implantation of a stent to keep a coronary artery open.

Thrombolytic/Clot-busting Drugs (1987)

Drugs used to dissolve clots in acute cardiovascular events.

da Vinci Robotic System (2000)

Robotic-assisted system enabling precision, minimally invasive surgery.

3D-Printed Heart Models (2012)

Use of 3D printing to create patient-specific heart models for surgical planning.

PCSK9 Inhibitors (2015)

A class of cholesterol-lowering drugs approved for reducing LDL levels and cardiovascular risk.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

U.S. federal statute enacted in 2010 expanding health insurance coverage, regulating the health insurance industry, and controlling health care costs.

Universal Health Coverage

A health care system in which all residents of a country have access to necessary health services, regardless of their ability to pay.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

A type of managed care health insurance plan that provides coverage through a network of doctors and hospitals, typically requiring a primary care provider referral for specialists.

Premium

The amount paid, often monthly, to an insurance company for health insurance coverage.

Deductible

The amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket for health care services before your insurance company begins to pay.

Copayment (Copay)

A fixed amount you pay for a covered health care service after you've paid your deductible.

Coinsurance

Your share of the costs of a health care service, calculated as a percentage (e.g., 20%) of the allowed amount for the service after your deductible has been met.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

A type of managed care health insurance plan that allows members to see any doctor or specialist without a referral, but offers lower costs for using in-network providers.

Out-of-pocket maximum

The most you have to pay for covered services in a plan year. After you reach this amount, your health plan pays 100% of the costs of covered benefits.