CMAA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMAA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What ethical principle requires healthcare providers to 'do no harm'? → Nonmaleficence
2. The area close to is the distal portion of the arm. → wrist and hand.
3. What is the purpose of a prior authorization in healthcare? → To obtain insurer approval before certain services or medications are provided
4. Which scheduling method books multiple patients at the same appointment start time? → Wave scheduling
5. A claim is denied due to a missing modifier. What should the medical administrative assistant do first? → Review the claim for the correct modifier and resubmit
6. What is the proper procedure for opening a medical office? → Review schedule, check messages, prepare charts, verify equipment, unlock reception
7. What is a superbill used for in a medical office? → Documenting charges for services rendered
8. How should written communication be adapted for patients with low health literacy? → Use plain language, short sentences, visual aids, and teach-back method
9. When a medical practice transitions from paper records to an EHR system, which step is most critical before the system goes live? → Thoroughly training all staff on the new system prior to implementation
10. What does the abbreviation 'STAT' mean in a medical setting? → Immediately or at once
11. What does CPOE stand for in the context of EHR systems? → Computerized Physician Order Entry
12. What is the primary purpose of reconciling the bank statement in a medical office? → To verify that practice records match the bank's records and identify discrepancies
13. A patient has a $500 deductible, has met $300 so far, and receives a $400 service. How much of this visit applies to the deductible? → $200
14. Which physical safeguard is required under the HIPAA Security Rule? → Facility access controls for areas with ePHI
15. A patient overhears office staff discussing another patient's diagnosis in the waiting room. This is an example of a violation of: → HIPAA's Privacy Rule
16. A patient receives services from both an in-network and an out-of-network provider during a single hospital stay. What billing term describes this situation? → Balance billing exposure
17. What is the primary purpose of a patient recall system in a medical practice? → To proactively contact patients due for preventive care or follow-up visits
18. When verifying insurance prior to a patient visit, which piece of information is MOST critical to confirm? → Whether the rendering provider is in-network for the patient's plan
19. Which document grants a designated individual the legal authority to make healthcare decisions on behalf of a patient who is unable to do so? → Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
20. What is the primary purpose of a superbill (encounter form) in the medical office? → To capture diagnosis and procedure codes needed for billing
21. What does 'purging' mean in medical records management? → Removing inactive records from active filing per retention policies
22. Which scheduling method sets aside specific time slots each day for walk-in or urgent patients? → Modified wave scheduling
23. Which federal program offered financial incentives to eligible professionals who adopted and demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology? → Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs
24. What is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)? → A written agreement ensuring a vendor will protect PHI
25. Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of 'claim scrubbing' in the medical billing process? → To review claims for errors and ensure compliance with payer rules before submission.
26. An ICD-10-CM code is used in medical billing to describe: → The patient's diagnosis or reason for the visit
27. What does the combining form 'cardi/o' refer to? → Heart
28. What is double-booking, and when might it be appropriate? → Two patients in one slot; appropriate when one is quick and the other needs extended time
29. What is the purpose of a 'remittance advice' (RA) sent by an insurance payer? → To explain how each claim was adjudicated, including payment amounts and denial reasons
30. Under HIPAA, which is considered Protected Health Information (PHI)? → A medical record number linked to a diagnosis