Final answer:
Improved technology, population health programs, and defensive medicine practices contribute to an increase in healthcare costs, insurance premium costs, litigation frequency, and cost.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multiple factors contribute to an increase in healthcare costs, insurance premium costs, litigation frequency, and cost:
- Improved Technology: Advancements in medical technology, such as new diagnostic tools and treatments, can be expensive to develop and implement, leading to increased costs.
- Population Health Programs: Programs that aim to improve the overall health of a population can lead to increased healthcare costs initially due to preventive measures and early interventions.
- Defensive Medicine Practices: Healthcare providers may order unnecessary tests or procedures as a defensive measure to protect themselves from potential lawsuits, contributing to higher healthcare costs and litigation frequency.