1. Question: Discuss the "Great Society" agenda and its impact on health care in the United States. Do you feel that the Great Society initiatives were a positive step for American healthcare? TCO1
Student Answer: The healthcare system has progressed through numerous phases, change and challenges over the past century. Before the twentieth century the healthcare system faced the challenge of a predominance of acute infectious diseases, epidemics and unhealthy work and living environment. The federal government has provided college loans to students for tuition assistance. Today more than half of the students receive federal financial aid under the Great Society program. These educated individuals provide the human resources for economic prosperity. The impact of Great Society health has been enormous. In 1963 most elderly Americans had no health insurance and there were few retirement plans that provided such coverage. The low income families had little to no access to any medical treatment unless they were in critical condition. Today everybody has some sort of access to healthcare, whether is through a private insurance or government funded.
Instructor Explanation: Answer should include at least discussion of the new Medicare and Medicaid programs, improved access to healthcare for many Americans, increased government involvement in healthcare, emphasis on chronic diseases versus acute care solely, and reorganization of our healthcare delivery system nationally. Student responses on the second part of this question will naturally vary. 2. Question : What are the major factors impacting demand for health care services? Choose three and describe how they impact the demand for health services. TCO2
Student Answer: The demand for healthcare services is defined, particularly by health economists, as patient’s care seeking behavior, which translates into attempts to obtain health care services. These attempts may or