Patient Access Trivia

Explanation
An occurrence code is a required field if the patient has Medicare. This code is used to indicate specific events or circumstances related to the patient's stay or treatment. Medicare requires the use of occurrence codes to track and document various occurrences, such as accidents, injuries, or other significant events that may affect the patient's care or billing. By including the occurrence code, healthcare providers can ensure accurate coding and billing for Medicare patients.

Explanation
An advanced directive is a federally mandated question that asks whether or not a patient has a living will or a health care power of attorney. This document allows individuals to specify their medical treatment preferences in case they become unable to communicate or make decisions. It ensures that their wishes regarding end-of-life care and medical interventions are respected and followed.

Explanation
Medicaid is a government-funded healthcare program that provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families. It is considered a secondary insurance because it is designed to fill in the gaps in coverage for those who already have a primary insurance plan. Medicaid typically covers costs that are not paid for by the primary insurance, such as copayments, deductibles, and services not covered by the primary insurance. Therefore, Medicaid is always secondary to a primary insurance.

Explanation
Medicare Part B is for outpatient services only. This part of Medicare covers services such as doctor visits, preventive care, and medical supplies that are needed on an outpatient basis. It helps to pay for services that are not covered under Part A, which is for hospital stays. Medicare Part B is optional, but most people choose to enroll in it to ensure they have coverage for outpatient care.

Explanation
The Birthday Rule was created to determine coordination of benefits. The rule states that when a dependent child is covered by both parents' health insurance plans, the plan of the parent whose birthday falls earlier in the calendar year becomes the primary plan. This rule helps to establish which plan is responsible for paying for the dependent child's medical expenses first, ensuring that the coordination of benefits is fair and efficient.