Question

A patient presents to the medical office stating the following: "I was previously seen for a physical exam and the EOB I received contained an error regarding my medical coverage. The doctor ordered blood screening for hypercholesterolemia, and I'm out of my blood pressure meds." Which of the following questions should the medical office assistant ask the patient first?

1) Were you referred by a physician?
2) Which insurance carrier do you have?
3) Will you be paying for the bill?
4) Did the doctor say you needed to be seen today?

Answer 1

The medical office assistant should ask the patient which insurance carrier they have to address the error regarding their medical coverage and determine if the services they need will be covered. Option 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medical office assistant should ask the patient the second question, Which insurance carrier do you have? Option 2. This question is important because it directly addresses the error regarding the patient's medical coverage. By knowing the patient's insurance carrier, the medical office assistant can investigate and resolve the issue with the EOB (Explanation of Benefits) received by the patient. It also helps determine if the doctor's order for blood screening and the prescription for blood pressure meds will be covered by the patient's insurance.