Thirty percent of health spending in the United States in 2009about

3. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements?

Difficulty Level: 600

Explanation

The passage discusses several issues and challenges within the United States healthcare system, primarily focusing on the inefficiencies, waste, and problems that lead to unnecessary costs and compromised care. The author emphasizes the need for transformative changes to the healthcare system to reduce costs and improve the quality of care. Let's break down the reasons for the likely agreement with statement (b):

Wasted Spending and Inefficiencies: The passage highlights that thirty percent of health spending was wasted on unnecessary services, excessive administration costs, fraud, and other problems. This points to the fact that the healthcare system has significant inefficiencies that contribute to its ineffectiveness and redundant spending.

Call for Changes and Transformations: The Institute of Medicine report emphasizes the urgent need for changes to the healthcare system to reduce costs and improve care. This aligns with the idea that the system has the potential to be better but requires transformation to overcome its current deficiencies.

Need for Continuous Improvement: The passage stresses the importance of transforming the healthcare system into a "learning" system that continuously improves by capturing lessons from care experiences and new research discoveries. This implies that the current state of the system is not satisfactory and needs improvement.

Embracing New Technologies and Patient Involvement: The solutions proposed in the passage include greater use of electronic health records, patient and family involvement, and quicker adoption of medical breakthroughs. These suggestions imply that the system needs to evolve and adapt to become more effective.

Threats to Health and Economic Security: The passage mentions the clear and compelling threats to Americans' health and economic security, indicating that the current healthcare system is not providing adequate protection.

Commitment to Improvement: The passage states that achieving higher-quality care at a lower cost will require an across-the-board commitment to transform the U.S. health system. This suggests that there is a recognition of the need for significant changes to the existing system.

Overall, the passage emphasizes the need for substantial improvements and transformations in the U.S. healthcare system to address its inefficiencies, waste, and quality issues. This aligns with the idea that the healthcare system has the potential to be much better but is hindered by human error and other challenges. Therefore, the author would likely agree with statement (b).

Answer: B

5. The report being discussed in the passage would be of interest to which of the following individuals?

Difficulty Level: 700

Explanation

The official answer, (E) Americans, is correct because the passage primarily focuses on issues related to the United States healthcare system, its challenges, and potential solutions. The report's findings and recommendations directly affect the health, well-being, and economic security of the American population. Let's analyze why the other options are incorrect:

a. healthcare professionals - While healthcare professionals would indeed have an interest in the report's findings, the passage does not solely revolve around their perspective. It discusses broader issues in the healthcare system, including wasteful spending, inefficiencies, and the need for overall improvements. The report's implications extend beyond healthcare professionals.

b. people without insurance - While this group would be impacted by changes in the healthcare system, the passage does not specifically focus on uninsured individuals. It addresses larger systemic issues, such as wasteful spending, inefficiencies, and the need for improved care and reduced costs, which affect the entire healthcare system, not just the uninsured.

c. insurance companies - While insurance companies play a role in the healthcare system, the passage does not centralize around their interests or operations. It primarily discusses problems within the healthcare system, the need for changes, and the potential solutions to achieve better care at lower costs.

d. data entry specialists - The passage mentions inefficiency and the need for capturing lessons from care experiences and new research discoveries, but it does not particularly highlight the role of data entry specialists. The focus is on systemic changes and improvements in healthcare delivery and quality.

e. Americans - This is the correct answer. The passage discusses threats to Americans' health and economic security, the need for improvements in the healthcare system, and the potential benefits of achieving better quality care at lower costs. The report's findings and recommendations have direct implications for the American population as a whole.

In summary, the passage's central themes focus on the healthcare system's challenges, solutions, and their impact on the American population's health and economic security. Therefore, (E) Americans is the most appropriate answer choice.

Answer: E

6. The basic structure of this passage is

Difficulty Level: 550

Explanation

The passage begins by presenting data and information about the wasteful spending and problems within the United States healthcare system. This data supports the idea that changes need to be made to the healthcare system to reduce costs and improve care. The passage then goes on to discuss the challenges and obstacles that hinder these efforts, including inefficiency, economic issues, and quality problems. The passage provides evidence and data to support the assertion that the healthcare system is in need of improvement.

Following this, the passage outlines solutions and recommendations for addressing the problems identified. It suggests changes such as using electronic health records, involving patients and families in healthcare decision-making, adopting new technologies, and emphasizing value and outcomes of care. The passage provides a clear agenda for how the healthcare system can be transformed to achieve higher-quality care at lower costs.

Throughout the passage, there is a consistent focus on delivering data, evidence, and information to support the idea that changes are needed in the healthcare system and to provide a recommended agenda for improvement. The structure aligns with option (c), which involves delivering data supporting an idea and a recommended agenda.

Answer: C