The chief nursing office continues to seek ways to improve healthcare

QUESTION

The chief nursing office continues to seek ways to improve healthcare services to clients and to save the hospital money. However, with the federal guidelines of paying agencies based on capitation, the chief nursing office faces a challenge.

Capitation provides incentives for healthcare providers to control costs by:

a. Providing fewer services to fewer clients.
b. Using fewer services per client.
c. Using high-technology treatments.
d. Requiring second opinions.

ANSWER:

ANS: B
In a capitated environment, a single fee is paid for all services provided. To be financially viable under this reimbursement model, organizations would be interested in decreasing the volume of services used and increasing the volume of patients. High-technology treatments and second opinions may increase the number of services used.