COF Professional Ethics & Regulatory Compliance 2

Question 1

An orthotist discovers that a colleague has been billing Medicare for custom orthoses but delivering prefabricated devices. The orthotist's primary ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the suspected fraud to appropriate authorities

Answer

Suspected Medicare fraud must be reported to authorities such as the OIG or CMS, as failure to report known fraud may constitute complicity.

Question 2

Under HIPAA, which of the following constitutes a permissible disclosure of protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization?

Accepted Answer

Providing PHI to a treating physician for continuity of care

Answer

HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI to other treating healthcare providers involved in the patient's care without written authorization.

Question 3

Which ABC Code of Ethics principle obligates a certified orthotist to refer a patient when the condition is beyond the practitioner's competence?

Accepted Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Non-maleficence ('do no harm') requires practitioners to avoid harm by recognizing the limits of their competence and referring appropriately.

Question 4

A certified orthotic fitter has a financial interest in a durable medical equipment company. When recommending devices, the fitter must:

Accepted Answer

Disclose the conflict of interest to the patient and referring provider

Answer

Conflicts of interest must be transparently disclosed to patients and referring providers so they can make informed decisions.

Question 5

Under the Stark Law, a physician who refers Medicare patients to an orthotic practice in which the physician has a financial relationship is:

Accepted Answer

Generally prohibited unless a specific exception applies

Answer

The Stark Law generally prohibits physician self-referrals to entities with which they have financial relationships unless a statutory exception applies.

(COF) Certified Orthotic Fitter Practice Test

(COF) Certified Orthotic Fitter Practice Test

COF Professional Ethics & Regulatory Compliance 2