Regulatory Compliance & Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real HSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Regulatory Compliance & Standards flashcards as text
A psychologist treating a minor receives a request from the non-custodial parent for access to the child's therapy records. The psychologist should:
Answer: Review the custody order and applicable state law to determine the non-custodial parent's legal rights
Non-custodial parents' rights to mental health records vary by state law and the specific terms of the custody order, requiring case-by-case legal analysis.
Which of the following is a permissible disclosure of protected health information under HIPAA without client authorization?
Answer: Disclosing PHI to public health authorities for disease surveillance activities
HIPAA permits disclosure to public health authorities for activities authorized by law, including disease surveillance, without individual authorization.
The CMS 'incident to' billing provision in outpatient settings allows non-physician practitioners to bill under a supervising physician's NPI. For psychologists, this provision:
Answer: Generally does not apply because psychologists can bill Medicare directly under their own NPI
Licensed psychologists are recognized Medicare providers who bill under their own NPI directly; 'incident to' billing is designed for non-independent practitioners.
A health service psychologist is asked to conduct a fitness-for-duty evaluation of a hospital employee referred by human resources. Which ethical consideration is most salient?
Answer: Clarifying upfront that the psychologist's client is the employer, not the employee
In third-party evaluations, psychologists must clarify the nature of the relationship, including that the organization rather than the individual is the client and that standard therapy confidentiality does not apply.
Under the Stark Law (physician self-referral law), which scenario would most likely implicate a psychologist working in an integrated health system?
Answer: A psychologist who has a financial interest in a diagnostic testing facility and refers patients there
The Stark Law prohibits referrals to entities in which the referring provider has a financial relationship, including ownership of diagnostic facilities.
A psychologist's malpractice insurer requests a copy of a client's records related to a filed complaint. The psychologist should:
Answer: Obtain client authorization or verify that disclosure is covered under a treatment/payment/operations exception
Sharing records with a malpractice insurer typically requires client authorization unless it falls under HIPAA's healthcare operations exception with appropriate agreements in place.
Which of the following represents a violation of APA Ethics Code standards regarding advertising and public statements?
Answer: Claiming expertise in a specialty area without adequate training or supervised experience
APA Ethics Code 5.01 prohibits false or deceptive statements, including claiming expertise that exceeds one's actual training and competence.