What is the principle behind supply-side rationing?

The principle behind supply-side rationing is fundamentally about controlling costs by limiting the availability of certain health services or treatments. In systems where supply-side rationing is implemented, health care providers or government entities may restrict the number of procedures, treatments, or types of services that can be offered to manage overall healthcare expenditures. This can involve setting limitations on the number of surgeries performed, capping the range of available medications, or determining which treatments are covered under health plans.

By rationing supply, the system aims to prevent excessive spending and ensure that resources are allocated in a manner that can sustain healthcare delivery over the long term. It addresses the challenge of balancing limited healthcare resources with the demand for medical services, ultimately striving to maintain overall fiscal responsibility within the healthcare system.

Other options, such as ensuring unlimited access to all treatments, providing equal treatment opportunities for all patients, and encouraging excess demand for health services do not align with the principles of supply-side rationing. Unlimited access and equal opportunities would contradict the very nature of restrictions that characterize supply-side rationing, while encouraging excess demand goes against the aim of controlling costs through limited service availability.