Patient Intake and Registration Flashcards
7 cards from real CMAA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Intake and Registration flashcards as text
A patient arrives for an appointment but their insurance card shows a different group number than what is on file. What is the correct action?
Answer: Verify the current insurance information with the patient and update the record before the visit
Insurance information should be verified and updated at every visit to ensure accurate billing and avoid claim denials.
Which form authorizes a medical administrative assistant to discuss a patient's health information with a designated family member?
Answer: HIPAA Authorization for Release of Information
A HIPAA Authorization for Release of Information must be signed by the patient before staff may share PHI with any third party, including family members.
When entering a patient's date of birth during registration, the MAA accidentally transposes two digits. What is the most likely consequence?
Answer: Insurance claims may be rejected due to demographic mismatch
Insurance carriers match claims against member eligibility records using date of birth; a mismatch causes claim rejection.
A new patient requests that their records not be shared with their primary care physician. How should the MAA respond?
Answer: Document the restriction request and flag the account accordingly after confirming with the provider
Patients have the right to request restrictions on information sharing; the request should be documented and reviewed with clinical staff per office policy.
During patient registration, which identifier is MOST critical to collect to prevent duplicate medical records?
Answer: Full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security Number
Full legal name, date of birth, and SSN are the primary demographic identifiers used to match patients and prevent duplicate or merged records.
A patient who speaks limited English arrives for registration. What is the federally recommended approach?
Answer: Use a qualified medical interpreter service
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and HHS guidelines require that covered entities provide qualified interpreter services at no cost to patients with limited English proficiency.
What does 'coordination of benefits' (COB) mean in the context of patient registration?
Answer: A process that determines which of a patient's multiple insurance plans pays first
COB rules establish the order in which multiple insurance plans pay claims to prevent overpayment beyond 100% of covered charges.