One difference between outcomes research and clinical research is that outcomes research
Health plans often use accreditation as a means of evaluating the quality of care delivered to plan members. Accreditation of subacute care providers is available from the
The paragraph below contains an incomplete statement. Select the answer choice containing the term that correctly completes the paragraph.
Definitions of quality healthcare vary; however, four dimensions are essential to quality healthcare services. ________________ is the quality dimension indicating that services result in the best care for a given cost or the lowest cost for a given level of care.
A health plan’s coverage policies are linked to its purchaser contracts. The following statement(s) can correctly be made about the purchaser contract and coverage decisions:
1. In case of conflict between the purchaser contract and a health plan’s medical policy or benefits administration policy, the contract takes precedence
2. Purchaser contracts commonly exclude custodial care from their coverage of services and supplies
3. All of the criteria for coverage decisions must be included in the purchaser contract
To facilitate electronic commerce (eCommerce), a health plan may establish a secured extranet. One true statement about a secured extranet is that it is
The BBA of 1997 allows states to provide Medicaid benefits to children through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Under the terms of the BBA, states can implement SCHIP as
1. Part of their existing Medicaid programs
2. Separate commercial insurance programs
The Shoreside Health Plan recently added coverage for behavioral healthcare services to its benefit package. In order to support the quality of its behavioral healthcare services, Shoreside plans to seek accreditation for its behavioral healthcare program. Accreditation specifically designed for behavioral healthcare programs is available through
1. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
2. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
3. The American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC (URAC)
Determine whether the following statement is true or false:
Participation in disease management programs is currently voluntary.
Health plans that offer healthcare programs for Medicare beneficiaries have a strong financial incentive for identifying high-risk seniors as early as possible. The identification of high-risk seniors is typically accomplished through the use of
Adele Stanley, a member of the Greenhouse Health Plan, recently went to a network pharmacy to have a prescription filled. The pharmacist informed Ms. Stanley that the prescribed drug was not in the plan formulary and that reimbursement for the drug was not available except in extraordinary circumstances. The pharmacist asked Ms. Stanley if she would accept a generic substitute.
The paragraph below contains two pairs of terms enclosed in parentheses. Determine which term in each pair correctly completes the paragraph. Then select the answer choice containing the two terms that you have chosen.
Greenhouse’s prescription drug reimbursement policy indicates that the plan formulary is classified as (open / closed), and that compliance by patients and providers is (mandatory / voluntary).
The American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC (URAC) has an accreditation program specifically for case management services. From the answer choices below, select the response that correctly identifies the type(s) of case management services addressed by URAC’s standards and the type(s) of organizations to which these standards may be applied.
The Garnet Health Plan uses provider profiling to measure and improve provider performance. Provider profiling most likely allows Garnet to
CMS has developed two prototype programs—Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and the Social Health Maintenance Organization (SHMO) demonstration project—to deliver healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries. From the answer choices below, select the response that correctly identifies the features of these programs.
The paragraph below contains an incomplete statement. Select the answer choice containing the term that correctly completes the paragraph.
To manage the delivery of healthcare services to their members, health plans use clinical practice parameters. ___________________ is the type of clinical practice parameter that a health plan uses to make coverage decisions concerning medical necessity and appropriateness.
Nilay Sharma suffered a small wound while working in his yard and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. A triage nurse at the hospital evaluated Mr. Sharma’s condition and directed him to an outpatient unit in the hospital where a physician assistant examined, cleaned, and sutured the wound. Mr. Sharma returned home following treatment. The care Mr. Sharma received at the hospital is an example of the type of care known as
Health plans have a specified number of working days to respond to Level One appeals, as stated by company policy or regulatory requirements. With regard to the timeframes for appeals, it is generally correct to say
1. That the typical timeframe requires a health plan to respond to appeals in fewer than 20 days
2. That the timeframe is accelerated for expedited appeals
3. That the review period begins when the appeal arrives at a health plan
Many health plans use HRA to target their preventive care programs to the healthcare needs of their members. With regard to HRA, it is correct to say that
One way that health plans evaluate their UR programs is by monitoring utilization rates. By definition, utilization rates typically
Helena Ray, a member of the Harbrace Health Plan, suffers from migraine headaches. To treat Ms. Ray’s condition, her physician has prescribed Upzil, a medication that has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval only for the treatment of depression. Upzil has not been tested for safety or effectiveness in the treatment of migraine headache. Although Harbrace’s medical policy for migraine headache does not include coverage of Upzil, Harbrace has agreed to provide extra-contractual coverage of Upzil for Ms. Ray.
In this situation, the prescribing of Upzil for Ms. Ray’s headaches is an example of
Determine whether the following statement is true or false:
Immunization programs are a direct means of reducing health plan members’ needs for healthcare services and are typically cost-effective.
This agency oversees fraud and abuse matters as they relate to medical management.