HSC Ch 13 Notes

Early healthcare in colonial US

Consisted of family members, neighbors, and home remedies; anyone could be a physician.

Hill-Burton Act of 1946

Provided substantial funds for hospital construction.

Managed care

System of healthcare delivery that seeks to achieve efficiency by integrating financing, insurance, delivery, and payment.

Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973

Provided loans and grants for the planning and development of combined insurance and healthcare delivery organizations.

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

Organizations specializing in coordinating care for Medicare patients to improve healthcare quality.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program for people 65 years or older, certain disabled individuals, and those with permanent kidney failure.

Medicaid

Health insurance program for low-income Americans.

Deductible

Amount of money the insured must pay out of pocket before the insurance company starts to pay for covered services.

Copayment

Set amount a patient pays for certain medical services.

The Joint Commission

Predominant accrediting organization for healthcare institutions.

Health Insurance Marketplace

A system that allows consumers to compare health insurance plans based on price, benefits, and quality.

Public health practice

Development and application of preventive strategies to promote and protect the health of populations.

Restorative care

Care provided after surgery or successful treatment focused on recovery.

Long-term care

Help for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities needing assistance with daily activities.

War-time healthcare influences (WW2)

Increased the use of health insurance in the 1940s.

Influenza pandemic (1920s)

Contributed to spikes in mortality rates despite initial declines in mortality due to improved public health.

Pay-for-performance (P4P)

Payment system rewarding providers for meeting or exceeding quality measures.

Chronic conditions

Long-term health issues that have a significant impact on quality of life.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

Accounts allowing individuals to save money tax-free for medical expenses.

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

Nonprofit organization that assesses and accredits healthcare plans.

Third-party payment system

Insurers pay or reimburse healthcare providers; became standard in US healthcare.

Consumer access to healthcare

Health insurance coverage and generosity of coverage as major determinants.

Private and public hospitals

Facilities that provide healthcare services, differentiated by their funding sources.

Effective healthcare

Healthcare that is based on scientific evidence and leads to desired health outcomes.

Equitable healthcare

Healthcare services that do not vary in quality or discriminate among patients.

Fixed indemnity

maximum amount an insurer will pay for a certain service