Certified Specialist Business Intelligence Practice Test

What does "supply-sensitive care" specify in healthcare service selection?

1. The relationship of supply costs to expected demand

2. Decisions based on capacity of available resources

3. The discounts provided by payers on services

4. The importance of market position for services

The correct answer is: Decisions based on capacity of available resources

Supply-sensitive care specifically refers to healthcare services that are influenced by the availability of resources, such as healthcare professionals and facilities, rather than the actual clinical needs of the patients. This concept underscores how decisions about offering services are often dictated by the existing capacity and availability of healthcare resources in a given area. When healthcare providers make decisions based on the capacity of available resources, it can lead to variations in treatment and availability of services depending on where a patient is located or what resources are at hand. For instance, if a hospital has more surgeons available, it might offer more surgical procedures, regardless of whether that is what the community's actual health needs are at a given time. The other options relate to different aspects that do not directly encapsulate the essence of supply-sensitive care. For instance, the relationship of supply costs to expected demand is more about economic principles than the specific healthcare service selection process. Discounts offered by payers typically concern financial arrangements rather than the availability of care itself. Finally, market position may affect strategic decisions in healthcare but does not specifically define how the selection of care services is influenced by resource availability. Thus, the correct choice clearly aligns with the essential aspect of supply-sensitive care regarding the decisions made based on the capacity of available resources.