Final answer:
A provider is the correct term for a person or institution that gives medical care, which can include various types of healthcare organizations like nonprofit health organizations, private hospitals, or government agencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person or institution that gives medical care is a provider. The correct answer to the question is option a. Provider. This term can reference various entities including a nonprofit health organization, a private hospital, or a governmental agency like Health and Social Services. Providers operate within various healthcare systems, including fee-for-service and health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
In a fee-for-service health financing system, providers are reimbursed according to the cost of services they offer. Alternatively, in HMOs, providers receive reimbursement based on the number of patients they manage, with a set amount provided per person, regardless of the specific services rendered.