Chapter 1: Introducing Health Policy and Policy Studies

Question 1

Policy

Answer 1

Plans and procedures developed and implemented by governments, agencies, organizations and associations to achieve desired goals

Question 2

Public policy

Answer 2

A course of action chosen by public authorities to address a given problem that is anchored in a set of beliefs about the best ways to achieve goals

Question 3

Health policy

Answer 3

Subset of public policy regarding politics, power and process

Question 4

Health policy vs healthcare policy

Answer 4

Health policy encompasses a broader range

Question 5

Health equity

Answer 5

All residents have access to resources and health services

Question 6

Health inequity

Answer 6

Unequal health outcomes across population as a result of unjust systemic practices

Question 7

Political ideology

Answer 7

System of ideas about what key issues are and what should be done about them

Question 8

What does health policy encompass?

Answer 8

Both health care and other health-related public policies such as financing and delivery
(broader focus)

Question 9

Health care in Canada

Answer 9

Publicly financed system of public health care insurance and the government allows the private sector to have a larger role in policy making (single payer system)

Question 10

US health care system

Answer 10

Dominated by market driven approaches; consists of a wide range of private health insurance plans

Question 11

What did Tommy Douglas implement?

Answer 11

Social welfare
Universal Medicare
Old age pensions
Mother’s allowances

Question 12

What were the two phases of Medicare implemented by Tommy Douglas

Answer 12

1. Remove financial barrier btwn those giving and receiving service
2. Reorganize and revamp delivery system

Question 13

Federal government role in health policy

Answer 13

Pays for health care system and sets up regulations about what is covered

Question 14

Provincial government role in health policy

Answer 14

Delivers health care programs

Question 15

Universality

Answer 15

All Canadians entitled to receive health care services without user fees and receive the same quality of care regardless of location

Question 16

Health care guarantees

Answer 16

Establishing a max wait time for each type of major procedure or treatment and when it is reached the government must pay for the patient to go elsewhere are receive it

Question 17

What do health care guarantees lead to?

Answer 17

Privatization of health care such as allowing private specialized clinic to provide certain surgeries and allowing private insurance schemas to support health services

Question 18

Impacts of privatization of health care

Answer 18

More efficient and shorter wait times
Poorer quality care, worse outcomes and higher mortality rates

Question 19

Consensus model of policy

Answer 19

Concerned with how various groups compete to influence public policy

Question 20

Consensus model aspects

Answer 20

Assumptions from natural and physical sciences
Rational consideration of alternatives
Cost/benefit analysis
Focus on technical issues

Question 21

Limitation to consensus model

Answer 21

Little focus on economic, political and social forces

Question 22

Technical issues

Answer 22

Day-to-day organization, financing and delivery of health care

Question 23

Conflict model of health policy

Answer 23

Consider the role that ideology and power play in shaping health policy

Question 24

Conflict model aspects

Answer 24

Economic, political or social forces affect policy
Focuses on inequalities such as with gender, race, social class, disability

Question 25

Individualism

Answer 25

The belief that the focus of attention w regard to health care and health policy should be on the individual rather than the environment

Question 26

Polis Model

Answer 26

Acting in interest of the collective; focuses on community well-being rather than the individual

Question 27

Ideology of polis model

Answer 27

Social democracy

Question 28

Motivations of polis model

Answer 28

Public interest and self-interest

Question 29

Chief conflict of polis model

Answer 29

Self interest vs public interest

Question 30

Nature of collective activity of polis model

Answer 30

Cooperation and competition

Question 31

Building block of social action of polis model

Answer 31

Groups and organizations

Question 32

Sources of change of polis model

Answer 32

Ideas, persuasion, alliances, pursuit of power, pursuit of public interest

Question 33

Market Model

Answer 33

Social system in which individuals engage in various activities, usually economic, to enhance their welfare; exchange of goods and services w little government involvement

Question 34

Ideology of market model

Answer 34

Neoliberalism

Question 35

Motivations of market model

Answer 35

Self interest

Question 36

Chief conflict of market model

Answer 36

Self interest vs self interest

Question 37

Nature of collective activity market model

Answer 37

Competition

Question 38

Building blocks of social action market model

Answer 38

Individuals

Question 39

Sources of change market model

Answer 39

Material exchange, quest to maximize

Question 40

What is Medicare?

Answer 40

Public provision of health care financed through taxation rather than fee-for-service