Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) Practice Exam

Is sending the bill electronically to the health plan a time-of-service activity?

1. True

2. False

3. Only if the patient is insured

4. Depends on the payment method used

The correct answer is: False

In the context of revenue cycle management, time-of-service activities refer to tasks that occur during the patient encounter or at the time of service delivery. These activities include collecting copayments, verifying patient insurance eligibility, and other administrative tasks that happen while the patient is present. Sending the bill electronically to the health plan does not occur during the patient encounter but rather after the services have been rendered. This action is part of the billing and claims processing phase, which pertains to the follow-up on payment for services after the fact, rather than a real-time activity during the actual visit. Therefore, identifying sending the bill electronically as a time-of-service activity is inaccurate; it is part of the post-service billing process. This is why the assertion is false.