AAMA CMA Practice Test

When the total payments exceed the total amount of charges in a patient's account, it means there is a credit balance. This surplus indicates that the patient has overpaid or that adjustments in the billing have led to a balance that is in favor of the patient. The patient may be eligible for a refund or can use the credit toward future services. A debit balance would suggest the patient owes money to the practice. Accounts receivable and accounts payable are not specific balances on an individual patient's account; they represent the business's overall balance of incoming and outgoing payments respectively.

The use of a sharps disposal container is the appropriate method for disposing of used needles to prevent needlestick injuries and comply with OSHA regulations. Recapping, bending, or breaking needles can lead to accidents and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

The patient has already paid $400 towards their deductible, leaving $600 remaining. The cost of the procedure will first be applied to satisfy the remaining deductible, which is $600. After the deductible is met, the insurance covers 80% of the remaining procedure cost ($900). The insurance will pay $720 (80% of $900), and the remaining 20% of the covered amount, which is $180, will be the patient's responsibility. Therefore, the patient’s total payment after insurance coverage is the remaining deductible ($600) plus their 20% coinsurance share ($180), totaling $780.

In the event of an acute asthmatic attack, the priority is to ensure the patient can breathe. Administering a quick-relief medication, usually a short-acting beta-agonist inhaler, can help to rapidly open the airways and alleviate bronchospasm. Monitoring vital signs is important but follows after ensuring the patient is receiving the medication necessary to open airways. Administering oxygen or contacting emergency services might be necessary subsequent steps depending on the severity of the asthmatic attack and response to initial treatment.

Releasing information related to HIV or mental health requires specific written authorization due to the sensitive nature of this information. Regular medical information does not always require such specialized authorization. This ensures additional privacy and protection for patients concerning sensitive health conditions.

When evaluating a PPD test, the area of induration (palpable, raised, hardened area) around the injection site is measured in millimeters. Redness is not considered a reliable indicator of a positive result. It is the size of the induration, not the redness, that is used to determine a positive result. Venipuncture and capillary blood tests are not methods used to determine the results of a PPD skin test.

The correct instruction for a 24-hour urine collection is for the patient to void and discard the first morning urine, then collect all subsequent urine for the next 24 hours. This is because the first morning urine represents substances accumulated overnight and does not provide a starting point for a collection period meant to represent an exact 24-hour timeframe. It is essential to have a precise starting time to ensure that all urine produced within the designated period is accounted for, leading to accurate laboratory results.

Stating to start collecting in the morning without discarding is incorrect, as it would include urine produced outside of the 24-hour window. Suggesting to collect urine at a convenient time but within the same calendar day does not accurately demarcate a 24-hour period. Telling the patient to collect as much urine when possible fails to adhere to the strict timing needed for the test, and therefore would not provide an accurate measurement for the patient's renal function.

The statement is false. The International Normalized Ratio (INR) is not used for managing hyperglycemia or adjusting doses of diabetes medications. Instead, it is a standardized number that is used to monitor patients on anticoagulant therapy, specifically warfarin. This is important for ensuring the patient's blood is not too thin (which could lead to bleeding complications) or too thick (which could lead to clotting complications). Management of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients involves monitoring blood glucose levels and adjusting doses of hypoglycemic medications, not INR levels.

It is essential to only discuss patient information with individuals who are authorized to have access to it. This is to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of the patient as mandated by HIPAA. Discussing patient information with unauthorized individuals, leaving patient information visible to unauthorized individuals, or not reporting a breach of confidentiality are all actions that violate HIPAA regulations and compromise patient privacy.

Patients have the right under HIPAA to inspect and obtain a copy of their health information. The medical office should have a process in place to allow this while ensuring the protection of other patients' privacy. The correct response is to inform the patient of the procedure to request access to their records officially and let them know how their request will be processed, including the possibility of minimal costs for copying. Denying the patient's request without allowing proper procedure or providing unfounded excuses are not compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Patient portals play a key role in modern healthcare by empowering patients with direct access to certain aspects of their health information and communication with their care providers. They enhance patient engagement, improve satisfaction, and can lead to better health outcomes by facilitating easier access to medical information and services.

A patient's authorization is generally required to release medical information for reasons other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. In the scenario where a lawyer requests a patient's records for a lawsuit, the patient must provide authorization, as this use is not for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. Discarding of records is done in accordance with privacy regulations on disposal and does not inherently require patient authorization. Sharing information for the treatment purpose between healthcare providers and for payment activities such as billing insurance are permissible without explicit patient authorization under HIPAA.

Whenever a patient receives additional services that were not included in the initial schedule, each service should be posted separately to ensure that the practice is accurately compensated for all rendered services. In this case, both the evaluation and management visit charge and the minor surgical procedure charge need to be independently posted to the patient's account. This is important not just for the practice's revenue, but also to provide an accurate financial record and to prevent any potential confusion during the billing process or insurance claims.

The best advice in this situation would be to consider the product's sodium content to be high. The FDA considers 5% or less of the daily value to be low and 20% or more to be high for nutrients like sodium. Since 39% is nearly double the 20% threshold, the soup contains a high amount of sodium per serving. Therefore, a patient with hypertension should limit or avoid this high-sodium food to manage their blood pressure effectively.

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite that can cause giardiasis in humans, an infection of the small intestine. This parasite is typically transmitted through water contaminated with the feces of infected individuals or animals. Understanding the nature and transmission of such infectious agents is crucial in clinical settings to prevent and manage disease outbreaks.