Health Care Systems and Settings practice questions for the CCMA exam
Health Care Systems and Settings is part of Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science, which is 15 of the 150 scored questions on the CCMA exam. Try 5 free questions below; open each one to see the answer, why the other options are wrong and the sources.
Question 1
A patient has a colonoscopy at a facility in the morning and goes home that afternoon without being admitted. How is this care classified?
AOutpatient (ambulatory) care
BSkilled nursing facility care
CInpatient hospital care
DHospice care
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Outpatient (ambulatory) care
Care given without a formal inpatient admission, where the patient goes home the same day, is outpatient or ambulatory care, the main setting where MAs work.
Why the other options are wrong
B. Skilled nursing facility care: A skilled nursing facility admits patients for ongoing skilled care, not a same-day procedure.
C. Inpatient hospital care: Inpatient care requires a formal inpatient admission order.
D. Hospice care: Hospice is end-of-life comfort care.
Which credential is the broad category that includes nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists?
AAPRN
BRN, BSN
CRN
DLPN
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. APRN
APRN (advanced practice registered nurse) is the broader category that includes NPs, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists.
Why the other options are wrong
B. RN, BSN: An RN with a bachelor's degree is still a registered nurse; the degree alone is not an advanced practice category.
C. RN: RN is the basic registered nurse license; advanced practice requires education beyond it.
D. LPN: An LPN is a state-licensed practical nurse, not an advanced practice category.
Under NHA's standard recertification rule, what must a CCMA complete to keep the certification current?
A10 continuing education credits every 2 years
B15 continuing education credits each calendar year
C10 continuing education credits every year
D20 continuing education credits every 3 years
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. 10 continuing education credits every 2 years
NHA certifications are valid for 2 years, and holders must document at least 10 continuing education credits during each 2-year cycle (a separate rule applies to California CCMAs who train other MAs).
Why the other options are wrong
B. 15 continuing education credits each calendar year: 15 credits is the NHA requirement for reinstatement after expiry, not routine renewal.
C. 10 continuing education credits every year: The 10-credit minimum covers the whole 2-year cycle, not each year.
D. 20 continuing education credits every 3 years: NHA's cycle is 2 years and the minimum is 10 credits, so neither number matches.
A provider asks the medical assistant to help arrange Medicare-covered home health services for a patient who leaves home only with great effort and needs intermittent skilled nursing for wound care. Which additional requirement must be met?
AThe patient must be under a practitioner's plan of care
BThe patient must have been hospitalized within the past 3 days
CThe patient must have a life expectancy of 6 months or less
DThe patient must need 24-hour skilled nursing care in the home every day
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The patient must be under a practitioner's plan of care
Under 42 CFR 409.42, the patient must be confined to the home, be under the care of a physician or allowed practitioner who establishes the plan of care, and need skilled services such as intermittent skilled nursing.
Why the other options are wrong
B. The patient must have been hospitalized within the past 3 days: A recent hospital stay is not a home health coverage requirement.
C. The patient must have a life expectancy of 6 months or less: A 6-month prognosis is a hospice requirement, not a home health one.
D. The patient must need 24-hour skilled nursing care in the home every day: Home health covers intermittent, not around-the-clock, skilled nursing.
While helping a patient set up her patient portal account, the medical assistant is asked, "If I get chest pain at night, can I just message the doctor here?" Which response is correct?
A"No, the portal is only for paying bills and cannot send messages."
B"Yes, mark the message urgent and the system will call 911."
C"Yes, the provider checks portal messages within a few minutes."
D"No, portals aren't for urgent problems; call 911 for chest pain."
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. "No, portals aren't for urgent problems; call 911 for chest pain."
MedlinePlus states that patient portals are not for urgent issues; time-sensitive needs require a phone call to the office, and chest pain or pressure calls for 911.
Why the other options are wrong
A. "No, the portal is only for paying bills and cannot send messages.": Portals do support secure messaging, so this misinforms her; the problem is urgency.
B. "Yes, mark the message urgent and the system will call 911.": Portals do not dispatch emergency services.
C. "Yes, the provider checks portal messages within a few minutes.": Portal messages are not monitored as an emergency channel.