HAC Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which agency establishes useful life guidelines for healthcare equipment used in Medicare cost reports? → Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
2. What is the role of an external audit in healthcare finance? → To ensure transparency and accuracy in financial reporting
3. How does technology support Electronic Health Records & Financial Systems in Healthcare Accounting Certification? → It automates processes, reduces errors, and improves reporting
4. Which regulatory framework most impacts Internal Controls & Fraud Prevention in Healthcare Accounting Certification? → Federal and state regulatory requirements specific to the industry
5. Which depreciation method allocates an equal amount of expense each year over an asset's useful life? → Straight-line
6. In the context of the Revenue Cycle, what does 'cash posting' refer to? → Recording payments received from payers and patients into the accounting system
7. A change in the estimated useful life of a depreciable healthcare asset is accounted for as: → A change in accounting estimate applied prospectively
8. A healthcare accountant reviews an 835 transaction. What information does this EDI file contain? → Electronic remittance advice from a payer
9. What is a 'crossover claim' in Medicare/Medicaid billing? → A claim where Medicare pays first and automatically forwards the balance to Medicaid
10. Which EHR security control best protects the integrity of financial transaction data from unauthorized modification? → Audit logging with tamper-evident trails
11. What is the primary goal of Capital Planning & Investment Analysis in Healthcare Accounting Certification? → Ensuring accuracy, compliance, and financial integrity
12. In a Medicare RAC (Recovery Audit Contractor) audit, what is the standard look-back period for complex reviews? → 3 years
13. A hospital uses a perpetual inventory system. Which is an advantage over a periodic system for high-value medical supplies? → Real-time tracking of inventory balances after each transaction
14. Which financial metric measures the average number of days a healthcare organization takes to collect payment after a service is rendered? → Days in accounts receivable (AR)
15. A healthcare organization discovers a self-disclosed overpayment from Medicare. Under the 60-day rule, from which date does the repayment clock begin? → The date the overpayment is identified
16. What is the role of documentation in Internal Controls & Fraud Prevention for Healthcare Accounting Certification? → Creating an auditable trail of all transactions and decisions
17. A hospital acquires a physician group and assigns $4 million to a non-compete agreement. Under ASC 805, how is this intangible amortized? → Over its estimated useful life using the straight-line method
18. How does technology support Medicare & Medicaid Billing in Healthcare Accounting Certification? → It automates processes, reduces errors, and improves reporting
19. The Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) is primarily used for which purpose in healthcare accounting? → Federal income tax depreciation
20. Under HIPAA, which standard governs the electronic format for submitting professional claims to payers? → ASC X12 837P
21. A healthcare organization receives an 835 transaction from a payer. What does this electronic transaction represent? → Electronic remittance advice (ERA) containing payment and claim adjudication details
22. Under the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs), a hospital must submit a Medicare claim within how many days of the date of service for timely filing? → 1 year (365 days)
23. When a hospital receives a government grant to purchase equipment, the preferred GAAP treatment is to: → Record the grant as deferred revenue and amortize it over the asset's life
24. Which CMS cost report schedule requires hospitals to report total supply and pharmaceutical costs by cost center? → Worksheet B — Cost Allocation
25. Which Medicare cost report worksheet captures a hospital's capital-related costs for PPS reimbursement purposes? → Worksheet B-1
26. A hospital acquires a building for $5,000,000. The land is independently appraised at $500,000. What amount is subject to depreciation? → $4,500,000
27. A hospital's EHR generates a UB-04 claim. Which patient type is this form used for? → Inpatient and outpatient institutional (hospital) claims
28. Which modifier is appended to a CPT code to indicate that only the professional component of a service was performed? → Modifier 26
29. Which statement about the internal rate of return (IRR) method is a recognized limitation? → IRR assumes interim cash flows are reinvested at the IRR itself, which may be unrealistic
30. In healthcare, 'credential padding' in provider enrollment refers to: → Falsely claiming board certifications to enroll as a specialist