Certified Financial Consultant (CFC) Practice Exam

What does managed care primarily aim to do in the context of healthcare?

1. Maximize healthcare providers' profits

2. Control the quality of care

3. Provide unlimited access to specialists

4. Control health insurance claims expenses

The correct answer is: Control health insurance claims expenses

Managed care primarily aims to control health insurance claims expenses by implementing mechanisms to manage the cost and quality of healthcare services. This approach focuses on coordinating patient care, emphasizing preventative services, and using contracted networks of providers to offer services at reduced costs. By doing so, managed care organizations can effectively minimize unnecessary expenses associated with healthcare claims. One of the key principles of managed care is promoting efficient use of healthcare resources while ensuring that patients receive appropriate care. This is achieved through structured networks that encourage patients to utilize certain providers, thereby steering them towards cost-effective treatment options. Additionally, managed care plans often include various cost-control measures, such as prior authorizations and care management programs, which help manage the overall expenses incurred by insurance claims. The other choices do not align with the primary goals of managed care. For instance, while controlling the quality of care is important and is a component of managed care, it is a means to an end rather than the primary aim. Maximizing healthcare providers' profits could be an indirect effect, but it is not the central focus of managed care itself. Lastly, providing unlimited access to specialists contradicts the essence of managed care, which typically involves some level of restrictions to ensure appropriate use of specialized services and manage costs effectively.