HC21 Billing and Collections

Ideally, when should patient payments be received? -At the time of service -Within one month of service -Before the patient's appointment

At the time of service

In the medical office, who is responsible for helping patients understand their invoice? -The head nurse on duty -The medical office assistant -The office manager -The physician

The medical office assistant

What is a UCR fee? -A fee for parking at the office location -A fee for the amount that physicians in the same geographic area most commonly charge for the same service -A fee for the national average for a service

A fee for the amount that physicians in the same geographic area most commonly charge for the same service

Which of the following is the least confrontational way to approach a patient about an unpaid bill? -A personal interview -A letter -A house visit -A telephone call

A letter

What is a fee schedule? -An appointment book specifying billing cycle dates -A list of specified fees a physician charges for services -The physician's daily schedule

A list of specified fees a physician charges for services

What is the name of a patient bill that records services and charges for a specific time period? -An itemization -An invoice -A ledger -A fee schedule

An invoice

When should a receipt be issued to a patient? -Every time the patient makes a payment in the office -Only when a patient pays with cash -Only when a patient pays with a personal check

Every time the patient makes a payment in the office

If a patient plans to use a credit or debit card as payment, the physician is allowed to charge a higher fee for the patient's service. -True -False

False

It is okay to threaten a patient who has not paid with legal action, even if this is an action the office is not currently planning to take. -True -False

False

Which of the following attitudes is most acceptable for an assistant to have when discussing finances with a patient? -Rude and antagonizing -Arrogant -Nervous -Respectful and understanding

Respectful and understanding

A billing statement is an itemization, or invoice, of the balance the patient owes for specific services. -True -False

True

When should a patient be given an estimate of how much the fee for service might be? -When the patient checks in -The patient should already know -When the patient checks out -When the appointment is set

When the appointment is set

How often should patients receive a billing statement? -Once per month -Twice per month -Three times per month -Once every two months

Once per month

Which of the following best describes a superbill? -A patient invoice totaling over $1,000 -A patient invoice listing services performed in one visit -A bill from an insurance carrier -A patient invoice which itemizes their last five visits

A patient invoice listing services performed in one visit

Which of the following definitions best describes the term "guarantor"? -A person responsible for paying a patient's bill -A person who guarantees free medical service -A written contract between the physician and a patient

A person responsible for paying a patient's bill

Which of the following definitions best describes an aging report? -A record of all unpaid patient accounts, organized by date of service or date of first bill -A medical records database organized by patient age -A billing statement that can be sent to a patient monthly -A summary of a patient's bodily function breakdown due to aging

A record of all unpaid patient accounts, organized by date of service or date of first bill

In which of the following situations would the Truth in Lending Act apply? -If a patient sets up a payment plan with five installments -If a patient sets up a payment plan with two installments -If a patient borrows money from an outside source to pay a bill -If a physician offers a patient professional courtesy

If a patient sets up a payment plan with five installments

What purpose does the Truth in Lending Act serve? -It requires physicians to report all borrowed equipment. -It requires that all patient invoices be paid in four payments or less. -It requires physicians to disclose interest charges if any are charged. -It allows medical office assistants to borrow office funds.

It requires physicians to disclose interest charges if any are charged.

Which of the following is the best option for dealing with long-term delinquent accounts? -Sue the account-holder in small claims court. -Send the account to a third-party collection agency. -Write off the account as bad debt. -Hire a private investigator to find the account-holder.

Send the account to a third-party collection agency.

What does it mean to extend credit to a patient? -The patient does not have to pay for service. -The medical office issues the patient a credit card. -The patient can pay for service in installments. -A refund check is sent to the patient.

The patient can pay for service in installments

Where should all collections attempts and their results be recorded? -The patient's ledger -On a notepad -On a sticky note -Verbally from assistant to patient -All of the above

The patient's ledger

Which of the following methods of payment is least likely to be accepted at any medical office? -Third-party check -Credit card -Debit card -Cash

Third-party check

Why might an office divide patient billing into several cycles per month? -To provide more frequent reminders to patients -To decrease postage costs -To keep the practice management system from crashing -To stabilize the assistant's workload

To stabilize the assistant's workload