When greeting a patient at the front desk, which of the following should the MAA obtain?

When greeting a patient at the front desk, obtaining insurance information is crucial for the Medical Administrative Assistant (MAA). This information is necessary for several reasons. First, it allows the medical practice to verify coverage and determine the patient's responsibility for payment, which is essential for billing purposes. Understanding the patient's insurance will enable the MAA to confirm whether the services rendered will be covered under their plan and what co-pays or deductibles might apply.

Insurance details are also vital for effective encounter documentation in the patient's medical record and can aid in pre-authorizations for certain services if needed. By gathering this information early in the patient visit, the practice can streamline the administrative processes and reduce potential delays in service or billing disputes later on.

Although obtaining details about the chief complaint, current medications, and surgical history are important components of patient care and should be addressed during the encounter, they are typically gathered by clinical staff during the medical assessment rather than at the front desk. The primary focus at the front desk is to ensure that administrative tasks related to patient intake and insurance verification are completed efficiently.