Question

Which of the following factors is not implicated in rising healthcare costs?

a. Rising expectations of consumers for cure and care
b. Marketing of drugs to consumers
c. Large administrative staffs to process medical billings
d. Rising Medicare costs

Answer 1

Among the provided options, 'Rising Medicare costs' is not a factor implicated as a cause in the rise of healthcare costs; it's more an effect of the higher costs. Factors that do contribute to rising healthcare costs include consumer expectations, drug marketing, and large administrative staffs required for medical billing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The factor not implicated in rising healthcare costs among the given options is Rising Medicare costs. The reasoning behind this is as follows:

• Rising expectations of consumers for cure and care typically lead to greater use of healthcare services and adoption of newer and more expensive medical technologies, driving costs up.
• The marketing of drugs to consumers, especially direct-to-consumer advertising, can increase demand for newer, more expensive medications as opposed to generic alternatives.
• Large administrative staffs are required to manage the complex billing and paperwork involved with medical care, particularly in systems with multiple payers, contributing to overhead and higher costs of care.

In contrast, rising Medicare costs are more an effect of the rising costs of healthcare rather than an underlying cause. Medicare spending increases mainly because healthcare services become more expensive and because the population aged 65 and over is growing, which increases the number of Medicare beneficiaries.