What is a consequence of competitive market theory in health care?

According to competitive market theory, one of the key consequences is improved quality due to provider competition. In a competitive market, various health care providers strive to attract patients by enhancing the quality of their services. This competition encourages providers to innovate, adopt best practices, and improve patient outcomes in order to differentiate themselves from their rivals. As a result, when providers are aware that patients have options, they are more likely to focus on delivering higher-quality care and better service, which ultimately benefits consumers.

In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios that may not align with the principles of competitive market theory. For instance, increased collaboration among providers and decreased access to health services are typically associated with different market dynamics, such as monopolistic or oligopolistic environments. Higher prices due to reduced competition would also not reflect the intended outcomes of competitive markets where competition generally drives prices down, not up. Thus, improved quality stands out as a clear and positive consequence of competition in the health care market.