Waste and abuse is a reason for rising healthcare costs. Which of the following is a contributory factor?

Rationale:

A. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan: PPO plans typically offer members greater flexibility in choosing healthcare providers and may not have as strict requirements for referrals to specialists, reducing barriers to access.

B. Medicare advantage plans: Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, offer additional benefits beyond traditional Medicare, but they may not exhibit the same issues with access to primary and specialty care as other managed care plans.

C. Medicaid managed care: Medicaid managed care plans vary by state and may have different structures for accessing care, but they often emphasize primary care coordination and may not exhibit the same issues with access as HMO plans.

D. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans: HMO plans typically require members to select a primary care physician (PCP) and obtain referrals from the PCP to see specialists. This structure can create barriers to accessing specialty care, particularly if there are limitations in provider networks or delays in obtaining referrals.

Rationale:

A. Medical model of health care delivery: Precision Medicine is not a medical model of healthcare delivery but rather an approach to medical treatment.

B. Variations in practice: While Precision Medicine may lead to variations in medical practice, it is not a definition of Precision Medicine.

C. Increase in the elderly population: The increase in the elderly population is not the definition of Precision Medicine.

D. Goes a step beyond personalized medicine by taking into account environmental and lifestyle factors: Precision Medicine involves tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, including their genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle factors. It goes beyond traditional personalized medicine by incorporating a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's unique circumstances.