Question 1

What is the State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program?
A) a program managed by the Texas Education Association to provide guidance to school districts regarding improving student performance
B) a program established by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to assist those on public assistance find employment opportunities
C) a managed care program run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to provide health care to poor populations in various parts of Texas
D) an agency that has been created to ensure that the policy-making cycle is fully completed to ensure any policy made is given legitimacy

Accepted Answer

The State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program is a managed care program run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to provide health care to poor populations in various parts of Texas. It aims to improve the accessibility, quality, and coordination of healthcare services for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees.

Question 2

In National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) the Supreme Court found that
A) healthcare should be regulated by the state governments.
B) employers must provide contraception coverage in the insurance plans offered to their employees.
C) states could not be forced to expand their Medicaid programs.
D) small businesses should be allowed to join together to offer association health care plans.

Accepted Answer

In National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012), the Supreme Court ruled that while the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion was constitutional, it was not permissible for the federal government to withhold all Medicaid funding for states that refused to expand their programs. Therefore, states could not be forced to expand their Medicaid programs.

Question 3

Public policy refers to the outputs of governmental institutions.

Accepted Answer

Public policy refers to the outputs of governmental institutions such as laws, regulations, and other official actions taken by government officials.

Question 4

During the 1980s, a growing number of critics alleged that welfare programs
A) had nearly eliminated poverty.
B) were helping to create a dysfunctional underclass of people who depended upon them for survival.
C) were being abused, mostly by the wealthy.
D) benefited only the middle class at the expense of the poorer class.

Accepted Answer

During the 1980s, a major criticism of welfare programs was that they were creating a culture of dependence and welfare addiction among the beneficiaries, leading to the creation of a dysfunctional underclass of people. This argument was put forward by conservative politicians and intellectuals, who argued that welfare programs needed to be reformed to encourage self-sufficiency and reduce dependency.

Question 5

Responding to the Supreme Court decision on national health care legislation of 2010, Governor Perry announced that
A) Texas agreed with the Supreme Court's decision.
B) Texas would increase funding for Medicaid by borrowing substantial sums of money on Wall Street.
C) the Texas legislature would happily increase taxes to fund the expanded Medicaid program.
D) Texas would refuse to participate in the expanded Medicaid program.

Accepted Answer

Governor Perry and many Texas lawmakers opposed the national health care legislation of 2010 and had previously refused to participate in the program's Medicaid expansion. Following the Supreme Court decision upholding the law, Governor Perry announced that Texas would continue to reject the Medicaid expansion, arguing that it was a costly and burdensome federal mandate. Therefore, the correct choice is D.

Question 6

Which of the following was a goal of the Affordable Care Act of 2010?
A) to increase access to health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions
B) to create a single payer healthcare system across the United States
C) to eliminate private insurance companies
D) to ration expensive healthcare services in order to make healthcare more affordable for the country as a whole

Accepted Answer

One of the main goals of the Affordable Care Act was to increase access to health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions. The act prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions and also requires them to offer coverage at the same premium rates as healthy individuals.

Question 7

Around three-quarters of individuals on Medicaid in Texas are
A) between the ages of 18 and 45.
B) under the age of 20.
C) over the age of 65.
D) under the age of 10.

Accepted Answer

Most individuals on Medicaid in Texas are under the age of 20, reflecting the program's focus on providing health coverage to low-income families, pregnant women, and children.

Question 8

Welfare reforms are measured along which two dimensions?
A) the number of people receiving welfare and the crime rate
B) waste and fraud within each welfare program
C) the number of people on welfare and the success of getting people into the workforce
D) the number of welfare recipients who continued receiving welfare benefits for more than five years versus those who received benefits for a shorter period of time

Accepted Answer

Welfare reforms are typically measured by the number of people on welfare and their transition into the workforce. This is because the ultimate goal of many welfare programs is to provide temporary assistance to help individuals become self-sufficient and obtain employment. While waste and fraud are important considerations in welfare reform, they do not represent the primary focus of measuring the success of these programs. Similarly, the length of time individuals receive welfare benefits is not necessarily indicative of success, as some individuals may require longer periods of support to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. The crime rate is also not directly related to welfare reform, as the causes of crime are multifaceted and cannot be attributed solely to the presence or absence of welfare programs.

Question 9

Which agency is responsible for administering and coordinating the major welfare and antipoverty programs in Texas?
A) Texas Health and Human Services Commission
B) Texas Social Services Commission
C) Texas Assistance Commission
D) Texas Department of Health and Rehabilitation

Accepted Answer

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is responsible for administering and coordinating the major welfare and antipoverty programs in Texas, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The other options, Texas Social Services Commission and Texas Assistance Commission, do not exist. Texas Department of Health and Rehabilitation primarily focuses on public health and medical services, not welfare and antipoverty programs.

Question 10

One factor that works against rationality is the fact that the government tends to work incrementally.

Accepted Answer

Government policies and decisions are often made incrementally, meaning they are done in small steps rather than in one big action. This can lead to irrational or inefficient outcomes as each small step may not be thoroughly analyzed for its potential impact on the larger system. Additionally, incremental policies may not always be aligned with rational decision-making principles that prioritize efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and long-term planning.

Question 11

Which program provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid?
A) Children's Health Insurance Program
B) Federal Medical Assistance Program
C) Affordable Care Act
D) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Accepted Answer

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid. The program covers children and sometimes pregnant women with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level, and in some states, coverage is available for families with even higher incomes.

Question 12

One of the controversies arising out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas involved
A) religious restrictions imposed upon welfare recipients.
B) state monies being used to subsidize groups supporting abortion.
C) the funding for having a child in state clinics paid for by Texas taxpayers who were opposed to the procedure.
D) health care for poor, unwed mothers.

Accepted Answer

The controversy primarily centered around state funds being used to subsidize groups that support or provide abortion services, which led to significant political and public debate.

Question 13

Unless legally exempt, in order to receive benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, recipients must
A) agree to repay the money after they gain employment, since it is a federal loan.
B) not accept any other form of government assistance, including Medicaid.
C) make sure their children go to school, participate in an employment services program, attend parenting classes, get their children vaccinated, and agree not to use drugs or alcohol.
D) register to vote, attend any jury summons sent, and fulfill all civic duties requested of them by the state and county.

Accepted Answer

Recipients must comply with certain requirements in order to receive benefits through TANF, including ensuring their children attend school, participating in an employment services program, attending parenting classes, getting their children vaccinated, and agreeing not to use drugs or alcohol.

Question 14

In March 2010, Congress passed ________, substantially altering the nation's health care system.
A) No Child Left Behind
B) the Affordable Care Act
C) the National Women's Health Act
D) the Dream Act

Accepted Answer

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was passed in March 2010 and made significant changes to the United States healthcare system. The other options - No Child Left Behind, the National Women's Health Act, and the Dream Act - were all pieces of legislation that were introduced in Congress, but they did not significantly alter the healthcare system.

Question 15

In the 1960s, welfare policy in Texas reflected
A) a policy of minimizing the cost to Texas while maximizing the use of federal dollars.
B) a policy of maximizing welfare benefits paid by the state of Texas.
C) very generous state-funded benefits.
D) noncompliance with all federal welfare programs.

Accepted Answer

The 1960s saw a change in welfare policy in Texas, with a shift towards maximizing the use of federal dollars while minimizing the cost to the state. This was a response to the increasing burden of welfare costs on the state budget. Texas began to participate in federal welfare programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamps, and sought to maximize the federal funding available to the state. However, this did not necessarily translate into the most generous state-funded benefits for welfare recipients.

Question 16

In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to
A) direct cash payments to citizens living in poverty.
B) provide welfare benefits to the general public regardless of income.
C) assist Texans with their prescription medications.
D) provide health care for the poor.

Accepted Answer

Congress created the Medicaid program in 1965 to provide health care for the poor. It is a state-federal program that assists eligible low-income individuals and families in accessing necessary medical and health care services. It is funded jointly by federal and state governments and covers a variety of medical services, including hospital visits, physician services, and prescription drugs.

Question 17

Which government entity administered and determined the benefit levels for Aid for Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance, and Aid for the Blind?
A) federal
B) local
C) state
D) county

Accepted Answer

Aid for Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance, and Aid for the Blind were all administered and determined by the state government. Each state had the authority to set their own benefit levels and eligibility requirements for these programs.

Question 18

Toll road policy enabled legislatures to get access to funding without raising the gasoline tax.

Accepted Answer

Toll roads provide a way for legislators to access funding without increasing the gasoline tax. Tolls are paid directly by drivers who use the roads, and the revenue generated can be used to fund new road construction, maintenance, and repairs. This allows lawmakers to avoid the political backlash that can come with raising taxes, while still providing the resources needed to improve the state's transportation infrastructure.

Question 19

Federal money for Medicaid programs
A) comes to the states as a block grant without any significant restrictions.
B) is tied to the number of adults on the welfare rolls in order to reduce the cost of program redundancy.
C) is accompanied by federal rules and regulations, which states must comply with to maintain federal funding of the program.
D) is administered automatically by the federal government to avoid punishing program recipients.

Accepted Answer

Federal money for Medicaid programs is accompanied by federal rules and regulations, which states must comply with to maintain federal funding of the program. This ensures that the program is being run efficiently and effectively and that it meets certain standards set by the federal government.

Question 20

In an attempt to stem the rising tide of illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor, which act mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC programs?
A) the Family Support Act in 1988
B) the Supplemental Security Income
C) the Affordable Care Act
D) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

Accepted Answer

The Family Support Act in 1988 mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) programs in an attempt to address the rising illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor. This act required states to encourage and support two-parent families as a means of reducing welfare dependency.

Quiz 12: Public Policy

What is the State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program?

In National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) the Supreme Court found that

Public policy refers to the outputs of governmental institutions.

During the 1980s, a growing number of critics alleged that welfare programs

Responding to the Supreme Court decision on national health care legislation of 2010, Governor Perry announced that

Which of the following was a goal of the Affordable Care Act of 2010?

Around three-quarters of individuals on Medicaid in Texas are

Welfare reforms are measured along which two dimensions?

Which agency is responsible for administering and coordinating the major welfare and antipoverty programs in Texas?

One factor that works against rationality is the fact that the government tends to work incrementally.

Which program provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid?

One of the controversies arising out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas involved

Unless legally exempt, in order to receive benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, recipients must

In March 2010, Congress passed ________, substantially altering the nation's health care system.

In the 1960s, welfare policy in Texas reflected

In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to

Which government entity administered and determined the benefit levels for Aid for Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance, and Aid for the Blind?

Toll road policy enabled legislatures to get access to funding without raising the gasoline tax.

Federal money for Medicaid programs

In an attempt to stem the rising tide of illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor, which act mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC programs?