The Bismarck model of health care does not emphasize managed competition; it is characterized by a compulsory insurance system where the state negotiates the structure and prices, rather than by a competitive market. The correct answer is b) False.
The emphasis on managed competition is not a characteristic of the Bismarck model of health care systems. Instead, the Bismarck model, implemented in countries like Germany and Japan, is characterized by its insurance system that is financed jointly by employers and employees through payroll deduction.
Unlike models where competition is managed, such as the United States' Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges, the Bismarck model maintains compulsory insurance but does not operate on competition-based principles. Therefore, the correct answer to whether there is an emphasis on managed competition in the Bismarck model is: b) False
Managed competition entails a health care system where various providers compete to offer the best value to consumers, often within a framework established by a government or another organization. The Bismarck model, however, uses a multi-payer system with a degree of government regulation.
It combines elements of social insurance programs with the preservation of patient choice among providers, but does not actively promote a competition-driven market. Each insurance company collects premiums and pays out for health services, but the prices for services and the structure of the insurance system itself are typically negotiated between providers, insurers, and the state, rather than being driven by market competition.