Insurance Eligibility and Other Payer Requirements — Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) Practice Test

This Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) Insurance Eligibility and Other Payer Requirements practice set has 80 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation.

Sample questions

Three questions from the Insurance Eligibility and Other Payer Requirements bank with the correct answer and an explanation. The practice quiz above draws 30 questions at random from the same bank.

1. Which of the following is an example of a commercial (private) health insurance payer rather than a government payer?

   • A privately owned insurance company selling employer group plans — Correct answer
   • Medicare Part A administered by CMS
   • State Medicaid for low-income residents
   • TRICARE for active-duty service members

   Explanation: Commercial payers are privately owned insurance companies (for-profit or not-for-profit) that sell coverage such as employer group and individual plans. Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE are government-sponsored payers. Knowing whether a payer is commercial or government determines billing rules and program regulations. (NHA CBCS Domain 2; CMS)

   Handbook: Insurance Eligibility and Payer Requirements — payer types: commercial insurance (NHA CBCS Domain 2; CMS)

2. What is the key distinction between a government payer and a commercial payer?

   • A government payer is funded and regulated through a public program (federal and/or state), while a commercial payer is a privately owned insurer — Correct answer
   • A government payer never requires claims, while a commercial payer always does
   • A commercial payer only covers hospital care, while a government payer only covers office visits
   • A government payer is always secondary, while a commercial payer is always primary

   Explanation: Government payers (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, CHAMPVA) are administered under public programs and funded by tax dollars, following federal/state rules such as CMS policy. Commercial payers are privately owned insurers. Both require claims; coverage scope and primary/secondary order depend on the specific plan and coordination of benefits, not simply on payer category. (NHA CBCS Domain 2; CMS)

   Handbook: Insurance Eligibility and Payer Requirements — payer types: government vs commercial (NHA CBCS Domain 2; CMS)

3. In a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), the primary care physician (PCP) primarily serves as the:

   • Gatekeeper who coordinates care and issues referrals to specialists — Correct answer
   • Billing office that submits all of the patient's claims
   • Payer who reimburses the hospital directly for services
   • Employer representative who selects the patient's plan

   Explanation: In an HMO, the member selects a PCP who acts as a gatekeeper, coordinating care and providing referrals before the member sees a specialist. The PCP is not the billing office, payer, or employer. This gatekeeper model helps control HMO costs. (NHA CBCS Domain 2; CMS)

   Handbook: Insurance Eligibility and Payer Requirements — payer types: HMO gatekeeper (NHA CBCS Domain 2; CMS)