CMA (CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT)
EXAM BANK – COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Section 1: Administrative Competencies
1. Which of the following is the correct way to answer
a medical office telephone call?
A) Hello
B) Doctor's office, hold please
C) Good morning, Smith Medical Associates, this is
Jane speaking. How may I help you?
D) Yeah, what do you want?
Correct answer: C
Rationale: A professional greeting includes the
practice name, the medical assistant's name, and an
offer to assist.
2. A patient requests a copy of their medical records.
Under HIPAA, how many days does the provider
typically have to respond?
A) 7 days
B) 15 days
,C) 30 days (with possible 30-day extension)
D) 60 days
Correct answer: C
Rationale: HIPAA requires covered entities to
respond within 30 days (one 30-day extension
allowed with written notice).
3. What does the abbreviation "BID" mean on a
prescription?
A) Once daily
B) Twice daily
C) Three times daily
D) Four times daily
Correct answer: B
Rationale: BID (bis in die) means twice daily; QD =
once daily, TID = three times daily, QID = four times
daily.
4. Which of the following is the correct procedure for
verifying insurance eligibility?
A) Assume insurance is active
B) Call the insurance company or use electronic
verification system before the patient's visit
,C) Verify after the patient leaves
D) Never verify insurance
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Insurance verification before the visit
prevents claim denials and informs patients of
coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs.
5. What does "CMS-1500" refer to?
A) The paper claim form used to bill Medicare and
other insurance carriers for professional services
B) A type of stethoscope
C) A surgical instrument
D) A medication
Correct answer: A
Rationale: CMS-1500 is the standard health insurance
claim form for professional (non-institutional)
services.
6. A patient misses an appointment without
canceling. What is the appropriate action?
A) Do nothing
, B) Document the no-show in the patient record and
follow office policy (e.g., call patient, send letter,
charge fee)
C) Discharge the patient immediately
D) Bill insurance for the missed appointment
Correct answer: B
Rationale: No-shows should be documented, and the
patient contacted per office policy; insurance cannot
be billed for missed appointments.
7. What does "EOB" stand for in medical billing?
A) Explanation of Benefits
B) End of Billing
C) Estimated Outstanding Balance
D) Electronic Order of Benefits
Correct answer: A
Rationale: EOB is a statement from an insurance
company explaining what was paid, denied, and the
patient's responsibility.
8. Which of the following is an example of a
"subjective" finding in a patient note?
A) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
EXAM BANK – COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Section 1: Administrative Competencies
1. Which of the following is the correct way to answer
a medical office telephone call?
A) Hello
B) Doctor's office, hold please
C) Good morning, Smith Medical Associates, this is
Jane speaking. How may I help you?
D) Yeah, what do you want?
Correct answer: C
Rationale: A professional greeting includes the
practice name, the medical assistant's name, and an
offer to assist.
2. A patient requests a copy of their medical records.
Under HIPAA, how many days does the provider
typically have to respond?
A) 7 days
B) 15 days
,C) 30 days (with possible 30-day extension)
D) 60 days
Correct answer: C
Rationale: HIPAA requires covered entities to
respond within 30 days (one 30-day extension
allowed with written notice).
3. What does the abbreviation "BID" mean on a
prescription?
A) Once daily
B) Twice daily
C) Three times daily
D) Four times daily
Correct answer: B
Rationale: BID (bis in die) means twice daily; QD =
once daily, TID = three times daily, QID = four times
daily.
4. Which of the following is the correct procedure for
verifying insurance eligibility?
A) Assume insurance is active
B) Call the insurance company or use electronic
verification system before the patient's visit
,C) Verify after the patient leaves
D) Never verify insurance
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Insurance verification before the visit
prevents claim denials and informs patients of
coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs.
5. What does "CMS-1500" refer to?
A) The paper claim form used to bill Medicare and
other insurance carriers for professional services
B) A type of stethoscope
C) A surgical instrument
D) A medication
Correct answer: A
Rationale: CMS-1500 is the standard health insurance
claim form for professional (non-institutional)
services.
6. A patient misses an appointment without
canceling. What is the appropriate action?
A) Do nothing
, B) Document the no-show in the patient record and
follow office policy (e.g., call patient, send letter,
charge fee)
C) Discharge the patient immediately
D) Bill insurance for the missed appointment
Correct answer: B
Rationale: No-shows should be documented, and the
patient contacted per office policy; insurance cannot
be billed for missed appointments.
7. What does "EOB" stand for in medical billing?
A) Explanation of Benefits
B) End of Billing
C) Estimated Outstanding Balance
D) Electronic Order of Benefits
Correct answer: A
Rationale: EOB is a statement from an insurance
company explaining what was paid, denied, and the
patient's responsibility.
8. Which of the following is an example of a
"subjective" finding in a patient note?
A) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
