In 2013, the PPACA focused on improving preventative healthcare coverage and expanding the use of which payment method to providers?

• A. Fee-for-service payments
• B. Capitations
• C. Retrospective payments
• D. Bundled payments to providers

Answer: (D)

Shifting toward value-based reimbursement is the idea. The PPACA encouraged expanding payment models that reward coordination and quality rather than paying for each individual service. Bundled payments provide a single, comprehensive payment for all services tied to a defined episode of care (for example, a surgery and everything that surrounds it). This setup motivates providers to work together to manage costs and outcomes, because any savings achieved within the bundle can be shared, and care quality is tracked to avoid skimping on important services. In contrast, fee-for-service pays separately for each item, capitation pays a fixed amount per patient, and retrospective payments aren’t the episode-based, coordinated approach the ACA was promoting.