CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scheduling method gives each patient a specific appointment time and is the most common in outpatient offices?
- Wave scheduling
- Open-access scheduling
- Fixed/stream scheduling (Correct answer)
- Double-booking scheduling
Correct answer: Fixed/stream scheduling
Fixed or stream scheduling assigns each patient a set appointment time at regular intervals throughout the day.
Question 2: A patient's account has a credit balance. What is the most appropriate action?
- Apply the credit to the next anticipated service automatically
- Notify the patient and issue a refund or apply to future balances per practice policy (Correct answer)
- Write off the credit balance to reduce accounts receivable
- Transfer the credit to another patient's account
Correct answer: Notify the patient and issue a refund or apply to future balances per practice policy
Credit balances belong to the patient and must be handled per practice policy, typically by notifying the patient and offering a refund.
Question 3: What is the filing deadline (timely filing limit) concept in medical billing?
- The date by which a patient must pay their balance
- The maximum time an insurance carrier allows for submitting a claim after the date of service (Correct answer)
- The deadline for a provider to respond to an audit request
- The grace period before a patient's coverage lapses
Correct answer: The maximum time an insurance carrier allows for submitting a claim after the date of service
Timely filing limits set by insurers define the window after service in which claims must be submitted or they will be denied.
Question 4: Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, which item is required personal protective equipment when handling potentially infectious materials?
- N95 respirator mask
- Gloves (Correct answer)
- Safety goggles only
- Lead apron
Correct answer: Gloves
Gloves are the minimum required PPE when handling blood or other potentially infectious materials under OSHA's BBP Standard.
Question 5: A physician refers a patient to a specialist. Which document typically accompanies the referral to provide the specialist with relevant background?
- Superbill
- Referral letter with pertinent medical records (Correct answer)
- Advance beneficiary notice (ABN)
- Remittance advice
Correct answer: Referral letter with pertinent medical records
A referral letter along with relevant records—history, labs, imaging—gives the specialist the context needed to evaluate the patient.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a capitation payment model in managed care?
- The insurer pays the provider a set fee for each service rendered
- The provider receives a fixed monthly payment per enrolled patient regardless of services used (Correct answer)
- The patient pays the full cost and is later reimbursed
- The provider bills at usual and customary rates with no contract discount
Correct answer: The provider receives a fixed monthly payment per enrolled patient regardless of services used
Capitation pays providers a predetermined monthly per-member amount whether or not the patient seeks services that month.
Question 7: What action should a medical administrative assistant take when a caller becomes verbally abusive?
- Hang up immediately without warning
- Calmly warn the caller that the behavior must stop or the call will end, then follow through if necessary (Correct answer)
- Transfer the call to any available staff member to avoid the situation
- Apologize repeatedly and continue attempting to help the caller
Correct answer: Calmly warn the caller that the behavior must stop or the call will end, then follow through if necessary
Professional de-escalation involves calmly setting a behavioral boundary and ending the call if the behavior continues, following office policy.
CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant MCQ 5
Which scheduling method gives each patient a specific appointment time and is the most common in outpatient offices?