NCCPA Professional Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PA discovers that a colleague has been billing for services not rendered. What is the PA's primary professional obligation?
- Ignore it to maintain workplace harmony
- Report the fraud to the appropriate authority (Correct answer)
- Confront the colleague privately and take no further action
- Notify patients who may have been affected first
Correct answer: Report the fraud to the appropriate authority
PAs have a professional and ethical duty to report fraud to the appropriate authority, such as a compliance officer, medical board, or federal agency.
Question 2: According to NCCPA standards, which of the following best describes the purpose of the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program?
- To increase PA licensing fees annually
- To ensure PAs demonstrate ongoing competency throughout their careers (Correct answer)
- To restrict PA scope of practice in specialty areas
- To replace state licensure requirements
Correct answer: To ensure PAs demonstrate ongoing competency throughout their careers
The NCCPA's MOC program requires PAs to demonstrate continued competency through ongoing continuing medical education and periodic recertification.
Question 3: A PA is asked by a supervising physician to perform a procedure outside the PA's training and competence. The PA should:
- Perform the procedure because the physician requested it
- Decline and explain their lack of training in that procedure (Correct answer)
- Perform the procedure but document their objection
- Transfer the patient to another facility immediately
Correct answer: Decline and explain their lack of training in that procedure
PAs must only perform procedures within their competence and training; declining an unsafe request is both ethical and professionally required.
Question 4: Which action could result in revocation of NCCPA certification?
- Failing a CME audit by a small margin
- Practicing in a state where the PA is not licensed (Correct answer)
- Missing a single PANRE question deadline
- Applying for certification in a new specialty
Correct answer: Practicing in a state where the PA is not licensed
Practicing without a valid state license is a serious legal and professional violation that can result in NCCPA certification revocation.
Question 5: A PA in a rural clinic sees a patient who reveals suicidal ideation. The nearest psychiatric facility is two hours away. The PA's first priority is to:
- Document the statement and follow up at the next visit
- Assess the immediacy of risk and ensure patient safety (Correct answer)
- Refer the patient to the supervising physician's schedule
- Provide contact information for a crisis hotline and discharge
Correct answer: Assess the immediacy of risk and ensure patient safety
The immediate safety assessment of a patient expressing suicidal ideation takes precedence over logistical considerations.
Question 6: Under NCCPA policy, a PA who voluntarily surrenders their certification must do which of the following to regain it?
- Simply pay a reinstatement fee
- Meet current reinstatement requirements set by NCCPA (Correct answer)
- Retake only the CME component
- Petition the state medical board for reinstatement
Correct answer: Meet current reinstatement requirements set by NCCPA
PAs who voluntarily surrender NCCPA certification must satisfy current NCCPA reinstatement requirements, which may include examination.
Question 7: A PA notices that a drug representative is offering expensive gifts to prescribers in exchange for preferential prescribing. This practice is:
- Acceptable if the gifts are under $100 in value
- A violation of professional ethics and federal anti-kickback statutes (Correct answer)
- Permissible if disclosed on the patient's medical record
- Standard industry practice and not subject to regulation
Correct answer: A violation of professional ethics and federal anti-kickback statutes
Accepting gifts tied to prescribing behavior violates professional ethics and federal anti-kickback laws regardless of gift value.
NCCPA Professional Standards 2
A PA discovers that a colleague has been billing for services not rendered.
What is the PA's primary professional obligation?