CPCS Initial Application Processing 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A credentialing specialist receives an application from an international medical graduate (IMG). Which additional verification step is typically required compared to US graduates?
- Verification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) (Correct answer)
- Verification through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) only
- Confirmation from the applicant's home country embassy
- A separate FBI background check
Correct answer: Verification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
IMGs must have their medical education and training verified through ECFMG, which certifies that international medical graduates meet US standards.
Question 2: What is a 'clean application' in the context of provider credentialing?
- An application submitted electronically without paper documents
- An application with no adverse history, gaps, or missing required elements (Correct answer)
- An application approved by all committee members unanimously
- An application submitted before the provider starts working
Correct answer: An application with no adverse history, gaps, or missing required elements
A clean application is one that contains no adverse history, unexplained gaps, missing elements, or issues requiring additional review or explanation.
Question 3: Which body typically has the final authority to approve or deny initial medical staff membership at a hospital?
- The credentialing coordinator
- The department chief alone
- The governing board of the hospital (Correct answer)
- The credentialing committee chair
Correct answer: The governing board of the hospital
The governing board holds ultimate authority over medical staff membership and clinical privilege decisions, though recommendations come from the medical executive committee.
Question 4: A provider requests privileges for a procedure that is not currently performed at the facility. What should the credentialing specialist do?
- Grant the privileges based on training documentation
- Forward the request to the department chief and credentialing committee for evaluation and potential delineation of new privileges (Correct answer)
- Deny the request without further review
- Ask the provider to reapply after the facility begins offering the procedure
Correct answer: Forward the request to the department chief and credentialing committee for evaluation and potential delineation of new privileges
Requests for privileges not currently offered must be evaluated by clinical leadership and the credentialing committee to determine whether the privilege can be granted.
Question 5: Why is it important to verify a provider's current malpractice insurance coverage during initial credentialing?
- To determine the provider's annual income level
- To ensure the provider meets the organization's minimum coverage requirements to protect patients and the institution (Correct answer)
- To identify prior lawsuits filed against the provider
- To bill the correct insurance carrier for the provider's services
Correct answer: To ensure the provider meets the organization's minimum coverage requirements to protect patients and the institution
Verifying malpractice insurance ensures the provider carries adequate coverage as required by the organization's policies and medical staff bylaws.
Question 6: Under NCQA credentialing standards for health plans, what is the maximum time allowed to complete initial credentialing from the date a complete application is received?
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 120 days
- 180 days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 180 days
NCQA standards require health plans to complete the initial credentialing process within 180 days of receiving a complete application.
Question 7: What action should a credentialing specialist take when a primary source cannot be reached for verification after multiple attempts?
- Accept the provider's copy of the document as sufficient verification
- Document all attempts, use an alternative acceptable source if available, and escalate to the credentialing committee per policy (Correct answer)
- Place the application on indefinite hold until the source responds
- Deny the application immediately due to unverifiable credentials
Correct answer: Document all attempts, use an alternative acceptable source if available, and escalate to the credentialing committee per policy
When a primary source is unresponsive, the specialist must document all attempts and follow organizational policy, which may allow alternative acceptable sources or committee review.
CPCS Initial Application Processing 5
A credentialing specialist receives an application from an international medical graduate (IMG).
Which additional verification step is typically required compared to US graduates?