Final answer:
The correct answer to the student's question is b) Gatekeeper physician, which refers to the primary care physician required in a point of service plan. This helps manage patient care and costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Point of service plans are similar to PPOs, but they introduce the gatekeeper physician, or primary care physician (PCP). You have to choose your PCP. You can still choose to refer yourself, but it will mean more hassles and more money out of pocket. Therefore, the correct answer is b) Gatekeeper physician.
Even though you have the option to refer yourself to a specialist without a PCP's approval, it may lead to more hassles and higher out-of-pocket costs. In a fee-for-service health financing system, medical care providers receive reimbursement according to the cost of services they provide. On the other hand, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) reimburse medical care providers a fixed amount per person enrolled, making them responsible for allocating resources between patients efficiently.