Medical Law and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real CMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Law and Ethics flashcards as text
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the 'minimum necessary' standard means:
Answer: Only the minimum amount of PHI needed for a task should be used or disclosed
The minimum necessary standard requires that access to and disclosure of PHI be limited to only what is needed to accomplish the intended purpose.
A physician terminates the patient-physician relationship without giving the patient adequate notice or a referral. This is known as:
Answer: Abandonment
Medical abandonment occurs when a provider unilaterally ends a patient relationship without proper notice or ensuring continuity of care.
Which law established federal criminal penalties for healthcare fraud and abuse, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud?
Answer: Health Care Fraud Statute (18 U.S.C. § 1347)
The Health Care Fraud Statute (18 U.S.C. § 1347) makes it a federal crime to knowingly execute a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program.
What is the legal concept that sets the time limit within which a malpractice lawsuit must be filed?
Answer: Statute of limitations
The statute of limitations defines the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated; it varies by state for malpractice claims.
A medical assistant is asked to witness a patient's signature on an informed consent form. The MA's role is to:
Answer: Ensure the patient is competent and signing voluntarily
As a witness, the MA's role is to attest that the patient appeared competent and signed voluntarily, not to provide medical explanations.
Which of the following situations requires mandatory reporting by a medical assistant in most US states?
Answer: Suspected child abuse or neglect
All US states require healthcare workers to report suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities, regardless of patient confidentiality.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving anything of value to induce referrals of services covered by:
Answer: Federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid
The Anti-Kickback Statute applies specifically to federal healthcare programs (Medicare, Medicaid) and prohibits financial incentives that could improperly influence referrals.