CPOA Professional Issues 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CPOA who disagrees with a physician's treatment recommendation should:
- Override the recommendation when speaking to the patient
- Express the concern privately to the optometrist through appropriate channels (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient the optometrist is wrong
- Document a personal objection in the patient chart
Correct answer: Express the concern privately to the optometrist through appropriate channels
Concerns about clinical decisions should be raised privately with the supervising optometrist, not communicated in ways that undermine the provider or confuse the patient.
Question 2: Which federal program prohibits paying for referrals for services reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid?
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
- The Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute (Correct answer)
- The FTC Contact Lens Rule
- OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
Correct answer: The Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute
The Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law prohibit offering or receiving anything of value in exchange for patient referrals involving federal healthcare programs.
Question 3: When a patient's insurance does not cover a requested service, the CPOA should:
- Submit the claim anyway and add a different diagnosis code
- Inform the patient before the service and discuss payment options (Correct answer)
- Deny the service without explanation
- Waive the fee to avoid conflict every time
Correct answer: Inform the patient before the service and discuss payment options
Patients should be informed of non-covered services and their out-of-pocket costs before receiving care so they can make an informed financial decision.
Question 4: Under HIPAA, which of the following is considered a minimum necessary disclosure?
- Sending the patient's entire chart to their employer's HR department
- Providing only the specific information needed for the stated purpose of disclosure (Correct answer)
- Sharing all records with any provider who calls the office
- Posting patient names on the office bulletin board for scheduling
Correct answer: Providing only the specific information needed for the stated purpose of disclosure
HIPAA's minimum necessary standard requires that only the information needed for a specific purpose be disclosed, not the entire medical record.
Question 5: A patient who does not speak English arrives for an appointment. To ensure informed consent and quality care, the CPOA should:
- Ask the patient to bring a family member to interpret at a rescheduled visit
- Use a qualified interpreter service or bilingual staff member (Correct answer)
- Proceed with the exam using gestures and hope for the best
- Decline to see the patient until they find their own interpreter
Correct answer: Use a qualified interpreter service or bilingual staff member
Federal law and professional ethics require the use of qualified interpreter services to ensure patients with limited English proficiency receive equitable care.
Question 6: Which behavior reflects the concept of 'professionalism' as defined in allied health practice?
- Arriving on time, dressing appropriately, and maintaining confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Completing tasks only when directly observed by a supervisor
- Prioritizing personal comfort over patient care needs
- Avoiding documentation to spend more time with patients
Correct answer: Arriving on time, dressing appropriately, and maintaining confidentiality
Professionalism encompasses punctuality, appropriate appearance, ethical conduct, and consistent respect for patient privacy and care standards.
Question 7: If a CPOA accidentally discloses a patient's PHI to the wrong person, the practice's required response under HIPAA is to:
- Ignore it if the disclosure was accidental
- Assess the breach and notify the affected individual and HHS as required (Correct answer)
- Delete any records of the incident
- Only notify the patient if they ask about their information
Correct answer: Assess the breach and notify the affected individual and HHS as required
HIPAA's Breach Notification Rule requires practices to assess any impermissible disclosure, notify affected individuals, and report to HHS according to established timelines.
CPOA Professional Issues 5
A CPOA who disagrees with a physician's treatment recommendation should: