Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) Practice Exam

What typically causes a large number of credit balances in patient accounts?

1. Posting errors in the patient accounting system

2. Incorrect claim submissions

3. Inadequate staff training

4. Banking transaction errors

The correct answer is: Posting errors in the patient accounting system

A large number of credit balances in patient accounts is typically caused by posting errors in the patient accounting system. These errors can occur when payments are applied incorrectly or when charges are mistakenly recorded twice, leading to an overestimation of the amount owed by the patient. Such mistakes can result in accounts showing a surplus where the patient has either overpaid or received a credit, reflecting inaccurately high balances. Posting errors can arise from various sources, including manual entry mistakes, system glitches, or misunderstandings of the correct procedures for applying payments and adjustments. Addressing these errors is crucial for maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring that patients are correctly informed about their accounts. Incorrect claim submissions, inadequate staff training, and banking transaction errors could contribute to credit balances but are not typically the primary cause. For instance, incorrect claim submissions might lead to denied claims rather than credit balances, while inadequate training may create broader inefficiencies or mistakes without specifically causing credits. Similarly, banking transaction errors would relate more to the timing or processing of payments than directly to how those payments are recorded against patient accounts.