Current healthcare&policy related questions for Med school interview

[medDaisuki]

Hey guys,
I am preparing for my upcoming medical school interview. What are some of the important current health care policies, events, and medical ethics that we should know about for the interview? For those that got questions like these, how did they ask them? Any input would be appreciated.

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[Goro]

Is there a doctor shortage?
Medicare for all vs public option vs status quo?
Physician assisted suicide; for or against? Why?
Should the mentally ill be allowed to take advantage of the above? They do in some European countries.
The Covid-2019 outbreak: how would YOU handle it?
Should sugary soft drinks be banned? If not, what about the extra-large size drinks like Big Gulps?

 

[medDaisuki]

Is there a doctor shortage?
Medicare for all vs public option vs status quo?
Physician assisted suicide; for or against? Why?
Should the mentally ill be allowed to take advantage of the above? They do in some European countries.
The Covid-2019 outbreak: how would YOU handle it?
Should sugary soft drinks be banned? If not, what about the extra-large size drinks like Big Gulps?

Those are so good. Thanks!

 

[deleted994889]

I've gotten "what are 3 big problems in healthcare right now?"

 

[Rachapkis]

I found Harvard Med Girl's blog to be helpful on preparing for these types of questions.

Good Reads For Your Interview

Preparing for the interview season is a stressful affair. Interview invitations begin trickling in late in August, for some schools it could...

harvardmedgirl.blogspot.com

Practice Interview Questions

Rehearsing Q&A is the most effective way to improve your performance on your interview day. Ask your parents, friends or spouse to pose as t...

harvardmedgirl.blogspot.com

 

[WRL]

is healthcare a right?

 

[keolu hills]

Is there a doctor shortage?
Medicare for all vs public option vs status quo?
Physician assisted suicide; for or against? Why?
Should the mentally ill be allowed to take advantage of the above? They do in some European countries.
The Covid-2019 outbreak: how would YOU handle it?
Should sugary soft drinks be banned? If not, what about the extra-large size drinks like Big Gulps?

Not to go into a tangent. But your last question is interesting about sugary soft drinks being banned. It wasn't a topic when I was interviewed decades ago.

 

[Cornfed101]

The balance is a very good website to get a good list of pros and cons of healthcare policy stuff. Here is an example for obamacare. This came in handy in a few of my interviews!

Obamacare and the ACA: Facts To Help You Maximize Your Benefits

Get the facts about Obamacare, including how it works, who is eligible, and the benefits it offers. Knowing the facts helps you get everything you deserve from the ACA.

www.thebalance.com

 

[medDaisuki]

Thanks for everyone’s input here. I saw some interesting ideas.

 

[Wolvvs]

The balance is a very good website to get a good list of pros and cons of healthcare policy stuff. Here is an example for obamacare. This came in handy in a few of my interviews!

Obamacare and the ACA: Facts To Help You Maximize Your Benefits

Get the facts about Obamacare, including how it works, who is eligible, and the benefits it offers. Knowing the facts helps you get everything you deserve from the ACA.

www.thebalance.com

I think that's a great source, thanks for sharing! To be honest though, some of those cons are pretty weak. For example:

3. Increased coverage raised overall health care costs in the short term. That's because many people received preventive care and testing for the first time. It was expensive to treat illnesses that had been ignored for decades.

Is it really fair to call that a con? That's sort of the whole point...

 

[Cornfed101]

Is it really fair to call that a con? That's sort of the whole point...

it’s definitely a con for some people. My wife’s grandfather would prefer to never see a doctor for anything and not have to pay for it. Just because you should have preventive care doesn’t mean you want to pay for it.

 

[Wolvvs]

it’s definitely a con for some people. My wife’s grandfather would prefer to never see a doctor for anything and not have to pay for it. Just because you should have preventive care doesn’t mean you want to pay for it.

Absolutely, but I would argue that's a separate issue, more related to the tax penalties (which also are no longer relevant and didn't scale that much even when they were around). If you don't want to buy health insurance under the ACA right now you don't have to. Con #3 was more speaking to overall increases in healthcare spending due to pent-up demand, or need for healthcare that wasn't met under the old system. And those costs are borne by those who choose to purchase ACA coverage in the form of increased premiums. I think putting it in those terms (i.e. increase in overall PMPM costs driving up premiums for everyone) would be a better con than the way they put it, as people who have constant health costs are seeing their premiums go up because of other higher-risk people joining their plan (in combination with very few allowed rating factors).

IMO the biggest con they missed is the lack of a public option, which was originally included but was replaced with the completely failed co-op program, but I might be a bit biased 😛

 

[deleted480308]

Absolutely, but I would argue that's a separate issue, more related to the tax penalties (which also are no longer relevant and didn't scale that much even when they were around). If you don't want to buy health insurance under the ACA right now you don't have to. Con #3 was more speaking to overall increases in healthcare spending due to pent-up demand, or need for healthcare that wasn't met under the old system. And those costs are borne by those who choose to purchase ACA coverage in the form of increased premiums. I think putting it in those terms (i.e. increase in overall PMPM costs driving up premiums for everyone) would be a better con than the way they put it, as people who have constant health costs are seeing their premiums go up because of other higher-risk people joining their plan (in combination with very few allowed rating factors).

IMO the biggest con they missed is the lack of a public option, which was originally included but was replaced with the completely failed co-op program, but I might be a bit biased 😛

Premiums aren’t the only “cost” con, it’s also the tax burden of the subsidies and expending medicaid

 

[StudentDoGter]

I was asked my opinions about the healthcare system, what changes I would make, what I think of medical coverage for immigrants, etc

 

[Jungkookie]

controversial hot topics are a good one! Like physician-assisted suicide mentioned above, medical marijuana, I would say things like the topic of "safe injection" sites as well, religion & medicine