AMCA MAAC flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Minimum necessary standard

HIPAA rule requiring covered entities to use, disclose, or request only the least amount of protected health information needed to accomplish a purpose; treatment disclosures are exempt.

Breach notification deadline

Covered entities must notify affected individuals of a breach of unsecured PHI without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 days after discovery.

Business Associate Agreement

A written contract required before a business associate handles PHI on behalf of a covered entity, specifying permitted uses and safeguarding obligations.

Patient access right

Patients may obtain copies of their medical records; covered entities must act on the request within 30 days, with one possible 30-day extension.

Wave scheduling

An appointment method that books several patients at the start of an hour, expecting arrivals to stagger and match provider availability throughout the session.

Open-access scheduling

Also called advanced access, this model reserves same-day appointment slots so patients can be seen on the day they call.

No-show protocol

Standard steps taken when a patient misses an appointment: document contact attempts, apply the cancellation policy, and flag the chart for follow-up.

Catch-up slot

A buffer appointment reserved in the schedule for urgent needs, overbook situations, or provider delays, typically one or two per half-day.

SOAP note

A charting format with four parts: Subjective (patient report), Objective (exam findings), Assessment (diagnosis), and Plan (treatment).

Record correction method

On paper charts, draw a single line through an error, then add the date, initials, and reason; never obliterate entries or use correction fluid.

Release of information authorization

A signed, dated patient document specifying which records to release, the recipient, the purpose, and an expiration date or event.

Record retention period

State and payer rules set how long charts are kept; adults are commonly 7-10 years, minors until majority plus the state period.

Aging report

A report that groups outstanding receivables into time buckets such as 0-30, 31-60, 61-90, and 120+ days to prioritize collection work.

Practice management software

Administrative system that handles scheduling, registration, billing, and reporting, while the EHR holds the clinical record.

OSHA exposure control plan

A required written plan for workplaces with bloodborne pathogen risk, including annual training and offering hepatitis B vaccination to at-risk staff.

Incident report

A document recording an error or near-miss for quality improvement; it is generally kept separate from the medical record.

Coordination of benefits

Rules determining which health plan pays first when a patient has multiple coverages; the primary plan pays before the secondary.

Coinsurance

The patient's share of a covered service cost, expressed as a percentage, after the deductible has been met.

Medicare Part B

The Medicare component covering outpatient care, physician services, and preventive services; Part A covers inpatient hospital care.

Prior authorization

Payer approval obtained before certain services or drugs are delivered; missing authorization is a frequent cause of claim denial.

Modifier 25

A CPT modifier indicating a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service was performed on the same day as a procedure.

ICD-10-CM code structure

Diagnosis codes of 3-7 characters: the first character is a letter, the second a number, and later characters may be letters or numbers.

CMS-1500 form

The standard paper claim form used to bill professional services; institutional claims use the UB-04 instead.

HCPCS Level II codes

Five-character, letter-prefixed codes used for supplies, drugs, and equipment that are not described by CPT codes.

Suffix -ectomy

A word ending meaning surgical removal, as in appendectomy (removal of the appendix) or cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder).

Prefix brady-

A prefix meaning slow, used in terms such as bradycardia, which describes a heart rate slower than normal.

Sagittal plane

A body plane that divides the body into left and right portions; the coronal plane divides front and back.

Abdominopelvic quadrants

Four regions used to locate organs: RUQ (liver, gallbladder), LUQ (stomach, spleen), RLQ (appendix), and LLQ (descending colon).

Adult CPR compression ratio

For adult CPR, give compressions at 100-120 per minute, 2-2.4 inches deep, with a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio.

FAST stroke assessment

A stroke screening mnemonic: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services immediately.

Anaphylaxis first response

Inject epinephrine into the outer thigh, call emergency services, and monitor the patient's breathing until help arrives.

Seizure first aid

Protect the patient from injury, do not restrain or place objects in the mouth, time the seizure, and call for help if it exceeds five minutes.