Certified Application Counselor Practice Test

What is the primary goal of managed care?

1. To reduce the number of healthcare providers

2. To manage the costs, quality, and access of health care options

3. To eliminate insurance premiums

4. To simplify healthcare policy

The correct answer is: To manage the costs, quality, and access of health care options

The primary goal of managed care is to manage the costs, quality, and access of health care options. This approach involves coordinating patient care to ensure that individuals receive necessary services while also controlling healthcare expenditures. Managed care organizations utilize various strategies such as creating networks of providers, emphasizing preventive care, and integrating services to improve health outcomes and efficiency. By focusing on cost-effective care, managed care aims to deliver high-quality healthcare while ensuring that patients have adequate access to services. Reducing healthcare costs doesn't inherently mean reducing the number of providers, as the emphasis is on optimizing resource use across providers rather than eliminating them. While managed care does aim to make healthcare more affordable, it doesn't directly eliminate insurance premiums, as these are typically influenced by many factors, including regulatory mandates and market dynamics. Simplifying healthcare policy is not the central focus of managed care; instead, it looks to enhance how existing systems operate to improve overall health service delivery.