Deck 31: The Commonwealth Fund, Why Not the Best Results From the National Scorecard on Us Health System Performance, 2008

Question 1

On several indicators of healthy lives preventable deaths, infant mortality, disability, and healthy life expectancy) average performance in the U.S. improved from 2006 to 2008, but still lagged behind other leading countries.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The absence of universal health coverage in the U.S has which of the following consequences?

A) poorer health from lack of timely access to care
B) health conditions that linger and become costlier to treat
C) premature death
D) reduced economic output
E) all of the above

Answer 2

E

Question 3

While the number of U.S. adults without insurance has grown, the number of underinsured has fallen.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The high out-of-pocket costs incurred by nearly one in four adults in 2005 is due primarily to:

A) the falling value of real wages.
B) rising numbers of uninsured.
C) rising rates of personal bankruptcy.
D) rising costs among those with private insurance.
E) none of the above

Question 5

Infant mortality in the U.S. decreased from 2002 to 2004 because rates in all 50 states declined.

Question 6

In the U.S., rates of preventable death from conditions such as bacterial infections, screenable cancers, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are now 59 percent higher than in the top-performing countries.

Question 7

Nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults went without needed health care in 2007, compared to only 5 percent of adults in the Netherlands.

Question 8

Describe the consequences of reduced access to care for overall health system performance.

Question 9

Compare and contrast scores received by America's health care system with its counterparts in other developed countries. In your opinion, do we get much value for our money? Use evidence from the article to support your argument.

Question 10

Which of the following countries fail to ensure universal coverage of their populations?

A) Germany
B) Canada
C) United Kingdom
D) United States
E) none of the above

Question 11

From 1999 to 2006, the number of states where approximately one-fourth or more of the working-age adult population is uninsured , while the number of states with less than one-seventh uninsured .

A) grew; declined
B) declined; grew
C) grew; stayed the same
D) stayed the same; stayed the same
E) stayed the same; declined

Question 12

On which of the following measures of patient-centered and timely care did the U.S. achieve benchmark scores?

A) access to a rapid appointment with a physician for adults with health problems
B) access to care after hours without going to the emergency department for adults with health problems
C) physician communication with patients
D) all of the above
E) none of the above