NHA CMAA Exam Flashcards

Q: How many questions are on the NHA CMAA exam?

The NHA CMAA exam has 135 total items: 110 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest questions.

Q: What score do I need to pass the NHA CMAA exam?

The local metadata lists a passing standard of 390 on a 200 to 500 scaled score range.

Q: What areas do these CMAA flashcards cover?

They cover scheduling, patient intake, insurance verification, billing and coding basics, medical records, communication, compliance, office workflow, safety, and exam logistics.

Q: How long is the CMAA certification valid?

The certification validity period listed in the local metadata is 2 years.

Question 1

CMAA Exam Structure

Accepted Answer

The CMAA exam includes scored items and unscored pretest items. Because pretest items are mixed into the exam, answer every question as if it counts.

Question 2

Scaled Score Meaning

Accepted Answer

A scaled score adjusts for differences between exam forms. The reported score is not simply the raw percentage of questions answered correctly.

Question 3

CMAA Time Management

Accepted Answer

Use steady pacing and flag uncertain items for review. Spending too long on one question can reduce time for questions you know how to answer.

Question 4

CMAA Retake Waiting Period

Accepted Answer

The local metadata lists a 30-day wait between retake attempts and a 365-day wait after three failed retakes.

Question 5

Certification Maintenance

Accepted Answer

CMAA certification is time-limited. Track renewal requirements early so continuing education and fees are completed before the credential expires.

Question 6

Stream Scheduling

Accepted Answer

Stream scheduling assigns patients specific appointment times throughout the day. It works best when visit lengths are predictable.

Question 7

Wave Scheduling

Accepted Answer

Wave scheduling books several patients near the same time so staff can room patients as the provider becomes available. It helps absorb small delays.

Question 8

Cluster Scheduling

Accepted Answer

Cluster scheduling groups similar visits, such as procedures or physicals, into dedicated blocks. This can improve room setup and staff efficiency.

Question 9

No-Show Follow-Up

Accepted Answer

Document the missed appointment, follow office policy for patient contact, and reschedule when appropriate. Do not delete the appointment record.

Question 10

Referral Tracking

Accepted Answer

A referral is not finished when it is sent. Track whether the specialist appointment occurred and whether the report returned to the ordering provider.

Question 11

Patient Check-In Priorities

Accepted Answer

Confirm identity, demographics, insurance, consent forms, and the reason for the visit. Accurate check-in supports billing and clinical follow-up.

Question 12

Demographic Updates

Accepted Answer

Verify address, phone, emergency contact, preferred pharmacy, and guarantor information at intake. Small errors can cause missed messages or claim delays.

Question 13

New Patient Packet

Accepted Answer

New patient paperwork commonly gathers medical history, privacy acknowledgment, consent, financial policy, and insurance information before the visit begins.

Question 14

Walk-In Patient

Accepted Answer

Follow triage and office policy instead of promising immediate care. Urgent symptoms should be escalated to clinical staff or the provider promptly.

Question 15

Checkout Workflow

Accepted Answer

At checkout, schedule follow-up care, provide ordered instructions or referrals, collect patient balances as policy allows, and confirm the next communication step.

Question 16

Insurance Verification

Accepted Answer

Verification confirms active coverage, plan type, member information, copay, deductible status, and whether referral or prior authorization rules apply.

Question 17

Copay Collection

Accepted Answer

Collect copays according to the payer contract and office policy, ideally at the time of service. Provide a receipt and document the payment.

Question 18

Prior Authorization

Accepted Answer

Prior authorization is payer approval requested before certain services. It is not a guarantee of payment and does not replace accurate documentation.

Question 19

Referral vs Authorization

Accepted Answer

A referral directs a patient to another provider. An authorization is payer approval for a service, visit, test, or procedure under plan rules.

Question 20

Coordination of Benefits

Accepted Answer

Coordination of benefits determines which insurance plan pays first when a patient has more than one active policy.

Question 21

Revenue Cycle

Accepted Answer

The revenue cycle begins before the visit with registration and insurance checks, then continues through coding, claim submission, payment posting, and follow-up.

Question 22

ICD-10-CM Purpose

Accepted Answer

ICD-10-CM codes describe diagnoses and reasons for care. They support medical necessity when paired with the services billed.

Question 23

CPT Purpose

Accepted Answer

CPT codes describe medical services and procedures. The code should match the documented service, not what staff expected the provider to perform.

Question 24

Clean Claim

Accepted Answer

A clean claim has the required patient, provider, insurance, diagnosis, procedure, and charge information needed for payer processing.

Question 25

Denial Follow-Up

Accepted Answer

When a claim is denied, review the payer reason, correct only supported errors, gather needed documentation, and resubmit or appeal within policy limits.

Question 26

Medical Record Ownership

Accepted Answer

The medical office usually owns the physical or electronic record, while the patient has rights to access and receive copies under applicable rules.

Question 27

Release of Information

Accepted Answer

Before releasing records, confirm the request is valid, identify exactly what is requested, verify authorization when required, and document the disclosure.

Question 28

EHR Documentation

Accepted Answer

Electronic entries should be accurate, timely, and attributable to the person who entered them. Avoid using another employee's login.

Question 29

Record Correction

Accepted Answer

Do not erase or hide an error in a health record. Follow amendment policy so the original entry, correction, date, and author remain traceable.

Question 30

Secure Record Disposal

Accepted Answer

Records containing protected information should be destroyed by approved secure methods after the retention period ends. Routine trash is not appropriate.

Question 31

Telephone Greeting

Accepted Answer

A professional medical office greeting identifies the practice, identifies the staff member, and offers help while protecting patient privacy.

Question 32

Active Listening

Accepted Answer

Active listening means giving full attention, letting the patient finish, clarifying key details, and confirming the next step before closing the conversation.

Question 33

De-Escalating Frustration

Accepted Answer

Use a calm tone, acknowledge the concern, avoid arguing, offer realistic options, and involve a supervisor or clinical staff when policy requires it.

Question 34

Written Correspondence

Accepted Answer

Patient letters and portal messages should be clear, professional, limited to the needed information, and sent through approved secure channels.

Question 35

Interpreter Use

Accepted Answer

Use qualified interpreter services when needed for meaningful communication. Avoid relying on children or untrained family members for clinical or consent discussions.

Question 36

HIPAA Minimum Necessary

Accepted Answer

Use or disclose only the information needed for the task, except when rules allow broader access such as direct treatment communication.

Question 37

Notice of Privacy Practices

Accepted Answer

The notice explains how the practice may use and disclose protected health information and describes patient privacy rights.

Question 38

Informed Consent

Accepted Answer

Informed consent is the patient's agreement after receiving enough information about the proposed care, risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Question 39

Scope of Practice

Accepted Answer

A CMAA should stay within administrative duties, training, state rules, and office policy. Do not diagnose, prescribe, or give independent clinical advice.

Question 40

Subpoena Handling

Accepted Answer

Legal requests for records should be routed according to office policy before releasing information. Verify validity and disclose only what is required.

Question 41

Tickler File

Accepted Answer

A tickler file is a reminder system for future tasks such as referral follow-up, record requests, supply orders, or patient recalls.

Question 42

Daily Mail Sorting

Accepted Answer

Sort incoming mail by priority, route it to the correct person or department, and protect patient information throughout handling.

Question 43

Supply Inventory

Accepted Answer

Inventory control prevents both shortages and waste. Reorder based on usage, lead time, storage space, expiration dates, and office policy.

Question 44

Delivery Verification

Accepted Answer

Check delivered supplies against the order and packing slip before accepting them as complete. Report shortages, damage, or wrong items promptly.

Question 45

Equipment Problem

Accepted Answer

For office equipment issues, check simple causes, follow the user guide or office protocol, document the issue, and request service when needed.

Question 46

Emergency Action Plan

Accepted Answer

An emergency plan tells staff how to respond to fires, severe weather, medical emergencies, security threats, and office closures.

Question 47

Fire Response

Accepted Answer

Protect people first, activate the alarm system, contain the fire when possible, and evacuate or use an extinguisher only if trained and safe.

Question 48

Hazard Communication

Accepted Answer

Staff must be able to identify hazardous chemicals, read labels, access safety data sheets, and follow storage and spill procedures.

Question 49

Sharps Awareness

Accepted Answer

Even administrative staff should know that sharps belong in approved sharps containers and should not be handled casually or placed in regular trash.

Question 50

Incident Reporting

Accepted Answer

Report workplace injuries, safety events, privacy incidents, or equipment hazards promptly through the office's required reporting process.

Free NHA CMAA Exam Flashcards

Filter by Topic

Jump to Card

About These NHA CMAA Flashcards

Topics Covered

Frequently Asked Questions

NHA CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant

Explore More NHA Certifications

NHA Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

NHA CCMA Clinical Medical Assistant

NHA EKG Technician (CET)

NHA CCMA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

NHA Patient Care Technician (CPCT/A)

NHA Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist

More From This Family