CPCS FREE CPCS Basic Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

In medical credentialing, what does the abbreviation 'LIP' stand for?

Accepted Answer

Licensed Independent Practitioner

Answer

Limited Institutional Practitioner

Answer

Licensed Internal Physician

Answer

Legal Independent Professional

Question 2

What is the difference between 'certification' and 'licensure' in the context of healthcare practitioner credentials?

Accepted Answer

Licensure is mandatory government authorization to practice; certification is voluntary professional recognition of specialized knowledge or competency

Answer

They are synonymous terms with no meaningful distinction

Answer

Certification is required by law; licensure is voluntary

Answer

Licensure is issued by professional associations; certification is issued by government agencies

Question 3

Which of the following is most accurate regarding the relationship between credentialing and patient safety?

Accepted Answer

Credentialing is a patient safety mechanism that helps ensure only qualified practitioners provide care

Answer

Credentialing primarily serves administrative and billing functions, not patient safety

Answer

Credentialing reduces patient satisfaction but improves efficiency

Answer

Patient safety is the responsibility of clinical staff, not credentialing specialists

Question 4

What is 'delegated credentialing' in the context of health plan credentialing?

Accepted Answer

When a health plan authorizes another organization (such as a hospital or CVO) to perform credentialing activities on the plan's behalf

Answer

When a practitioner delegates their credentialing authority to an agent

Answer

When a government agency takes over credentialing from a health plan

Answer

When practitioners credential each other through peer evaluation

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'tail coverage' in malpractice insurance?

Accepted Answer

Extended reporting period coverage that provides protection after a claims-made policy ends for incidents that occurred during the policy period

Answer

A policy provision that cancels coverage upon resignation from a hospital

Answer

A grace period before malpractice premiums are due

Answer

A type of occurrence-based policy for new practitioners

Question 6

A credentialing specialist has been asked to prepare summary statistics on the credentialing department's performance for the monthly quality report. Which of the following would be the most meaningful performance indicator?

Accepted Answer

Average number of days from receipt of completed application to committee review

Answer

Total number of coffee breaks taken by credentialing staff

Answer

Number of emails received from practitioners

Answer

Total amount of postage used for mailing credentials packets