Which of the following best explains how the government unintentionally encourages low-income persons to use emergency departments as their primary-care provider?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

People on Medicaid frequently have no primary-care provider and may not be able to pay for their care.Although physicians can choose clients based on their ability to pay,emergency departments are required by law to evaluate every client regardless of ability to pay.Emergency department copayments are modest and are frequently waived if the client is unable to pay.Thus,low out-of-pocket costs provide incentives for Medicaid clients and the uninsured to use emergency departments for primary-care services.Limited physician office hours over the weekend does make it difficult for low-income persons to access care through a primary care provider; however,this is not influenced by a government decision.The government does not require Medicaid clients to use the emergency department when their primary care provider is unavailable,rather the policies of the emergency department to see all clients regardless of ability to pay may inadvertently encourage them to use this service.The paperwork at a physician's office that needs to be completed by a Medicaid client is not any different than any other client receiving care at the office.

Which of the Following Best Explains How the Government Unintentionally