Administrative Duties Flashcards
7 cards from real CCMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Administrative Duties flashcards as text
A patient calls requesting their medical records be sent to a specialist. What is the FIRST step the medical assistant should take?
Answer: Obtain a signed authorization for release of information from the patient
HIPAA requires a signed patient authorization before releasing medical records to any third party, including other providers.
Which billing form is used to submit claims to Medicare for outpatient and professional services?
Answer: CMS-1500
The CMS-1500 form is the standard paper claim form used by non-institutional providers to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and most private payers.
A patient's insurance requires prior authorization for an MRI. The physician orders the MRI urgently. What should the medical assistant do?
Answer: Contact the insurance company to request an expedited prior authorization
When urgent care is needed, the MA should contact the insurer to request expedited (urgent) prior authorization rather than delaying or skipping the process.
What does the term 'accounts receivable' refer to in a medical practice?
Answer: Money owed to the practice for services already rendered
Accounts receivable represents the total amount of money owed to the practice by patients and insurance companies for services already provided.
A patient arrives 25 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment. What is the best action for the medical assistant to take?
Answer: Check with the provider to determine if the patient can still be seen
The provider should decide whether a late patient can still be seen given remaining appointment time and the day's schedule.
Which scheduling method books several patients at the same appointment time with the expectation that not all will arrive?
Answer: Wave scheduling
Wave scheduling books multiple patients in the same time slot (e.g., three patients at 9:00 AM) to maintain a steady patient flow throughout the hour.
When entering a new patient's demographic information, which detail is MOST critical to verify for accurate insurance billing?
Answer: Patient's exact name and date of birth as listed on their insurance card
The patient's name and date of birth must exactly match what the insurance company has on file, or claims will be rejected or denied.