MSU College Of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) Interview Practice Test

Access to care in healthcare systems is often limited by who can pay for services and how care is paid for. Gaps in insurance mean people may skip or delay care because of out-of-pocket costs or fear of medical debt, which leads to worse health outcomes and can strain the system with later, more expensive interventions. On the provider side, fear of malpractice can drive defensive practices—ordering extra tests or procedures or avoiding high-risk patients—to reduce legal risk. These financial and risk-management realities are a common barrier to delivering timely, appropriate care. The other options describe situations that would reduce or remove barriers (having ample resources, no regulatory constraints, or universal free care), which is why they aren’t the barriers discussed.