CCM - Certified Case Manager Ethical Principles and Conduct Questions and Answers

Question 1

A case manager is working with a client who requires specialized home health services.
The case manager's brother-in-law owns a local agency that provides these exact services.
To act in the most ethical manner, the case manager's FIRST action should be to:

Accepted Answer

Disclose the personal relationship to their supervisor and the client, and provide a list of several qualified agencies.

Answer

Recommend the brother-in-law's agency directly to the client, as they can personally vouch for the quality of care.

Answer

Avoid recommending the brother-in-law's agency to prevent any appearance of a conflict of interest.

Answer

Ask the brother-in-law to provide a discount to the client to demonstrate good faith.

Question 2

A case manager is facilitating a care conference for a competent adult client with a new, life-altering diagnosis. The client has clearly stated they wish to pursue a palliative care plan focused on comfort. However, the client's family is insisting on aggressive, curative treatments. The case manager's actions should be primarily guided by which ethical principle?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy, by advocating for the client's right to self-determination regarding their own care.

Answer

Beneficence, by siding with the family who wants to prolong the client's life.

Answer

Justice, by ensuring the family's desires are given equal weight to the client's.

Answer

Non-maleficence, by avoiding the family conflict as much as possible.

Question 3

A case manager receives a phone call from a representative of a client's life insurance company, asking for a copy of the client's most recent medical assessment to process a policy update. The client's file does not contain a specific, written consent authorizing this disclosure. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the case manager to take?

Accepted Answer

Inform the caller that the information cannot be released without a specific, written authorization from the client that complies with HIPAA.

Answer

Provide the information over the phone but refuse to send a written copy.

Answer

Send the information as requested to ensure the client's policy is not negatively affected.

Answer

Tell the caller to contact the client's primary care physician directly for the information.

Question 4

Which of the following actions best illustrates the ethical principle of beneficence in case management practice?

Accepted Answer

Proactively arranging for evidence-based physical therapy for a client recovering from surgery to improve their mobility and functional outcome.

Answer

Ensuring all clients on a caseload have equitable access to community resources, regardless of their background.

Answer

Being truthful with a client about the potential side effects of a new medication.

Answer

Respecting a competent client's decision to decline a recommended medical procedure.

Question 5

A case manager has been working with a client for over a year and has developed a strong, positive rapport. The client, who owns a popular local restaurant, offers the case manager a gift certificate for a free meal for two as a token of appreciation. What is the most appropriate ethical response?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the gift, explaining that professional guidelines on avoiding dual relationships and conflicts of interest prevent them from accepting it.

Answer

Accept the gift to avoid offending the client and damaging the therapeutic relationship.

Answer

Accept the gift but report it to their supervisor to ensure transparency.

Answer

Suggest the client donate the value of the gift certificate to a neutral charity instead.

Question 6

According to the CCMC Code of Professional Conduct, the case manager's primary allegiance is to the:

Accepted Answer

Client and their support system.

Answer

Employer or hiring organization.

Answer

Payer source or insurance company.

Answer

Interdisciplinary healthcare team.