WorksheetsQuiz: Referral and Intake Process
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 15mins
What is the main goal of following the standardized referral process?
To reduce staff workload
To ensure efficiency, accuracy, and compliance
To increase the number of referrals received
To eliminate communication with referral sources
What is the first step during the intake process?
Completing the welcome call
Entering data into the EMR
Reviewing and identifying new or potential referrals
Obtaining insurance authorizations
Which of the following is not a common referral source mentioned?
Fax
Portals
Telephone calls
Secure email
Intake staff must check fax queues:
Once a day
Only when notified by hospitals
Frequently throughout the day
Once per week
Which of the following ensures compliance and promotes patient safety?
Skipping intake steps to save time
Following standardized procedures from referral to welcome call
Accepting all referrals regardless of eligibility
Delaying authorization until after admission
All referrals are required to be entered into the EMR after they are received.
True
False
Only hospital referrals are accepted; other sources should be ignored.
True
False
Monitoring referral portals multiple times a day is part of intake staff responsibilities.
True
False
HIPAA privacy standards apply only to faxed referrals.
True
False
Following the standardized referral process supports a positive patient experience.
True
False
Name three common sources of referrals.
Fax, portals, and secure email
Phone calls, paper mail, and text messages
Public websites, social media, and walk-ins
Verbal messages through family only
Why is it important to verify that referral documents are complete and legible?
To ensure accurate patient information, proper admission decisions, and compliance with regulatory standards
To reduce the number of staff involved in intake regardless of accuracy
To prioritize speed over accuracy in processing
To avoid contacting the referral source under any circumstances
What systems or platforms might be used to receive electronic referrals? Select all that apply.
NaviHealth
Allscripts
Aidin
Epic
Orlando
What are two key outcomes of following the referral process correctly?
Eligible patients are admitted, and the patient experience begins positively
Marketing reports are generated before any clinical review
Billing is completed prior to verifying orders
Referrals are deferred until the next business quarter
What should intake staff do if a referral received via email is missing documentation?
Request the missing information from the referral source while maintaining HIPAA compliance
Proceed with admission and fill gaps later
Discard the referral without follow‑up
Forward the email to billing only
What is the main goal of the initial review process for home health referrals?
To collect marketing data about referral sources
To quickly determine if the referral is appropriate, complete, and actionable
To immediately schedule the first home visit
To bypass intake and send referral to clinical staff
Which of the following is not part of the initial review process? Confirming the patients service area, the intake staff should:
Admit the patient immediately
Ignore the referral
Contact the referral source for alternative arrangements or transfer options
Bill the patient directly for travel expenses
Why is it important to review the physicians next appointment date?
To coordinate care and plan timely services
To verify billing codes only
To check the physicians discharge diagnosis only
To schedule marketing outreach
If an agency cannot provide one or more ordered services, what should happen before accepting the patient?
Proceed with admission anyway
Coordinate with the referral source to address service gaps or arrange alternatives
Decline the referral without explanation
Notify billing only
A complete and accurate initial review helps ensure timely and safe initiation of services.
True
False
The intake team can ignore insurance verification if the referral comes from a trusted hospital source.
True
False
Determining whether the patients service area is part of the initial review.
True
False
Reviewing Home Health Orders is optional if the patient has Medicare coverage.
True
False
What are three key elements the intake team must verify during the initial review?
Patient eligibility, completeness of referral information, and potential barriers to care
Physician vacation schedule, office hours, and preferred contact method
Patient dietary preferences, home layout, and transportation options
Agency marketing goals, recruitment needs, and budget allocations
What should be done if the patients orders?
Ensure compliance with CMS regulations and maintain continuity of care for the patient
Defer any action until the next billing cycle to avoid delays
Ignore discrepancies unless a patient complaint is filed
Close the referral immediately without follow-up
What action should be taken if a referral is missing clinical or administrative documentation?
Contact the referral source promptly to obtain the missing information before proceeding with admission
Proceed with admission and request documents after the first visit
Cancel the referral and instruct the patient to resubmit
Wait one week to see if the documentation arrives automatically
How does conducting a thorough initial review benefit both the patient and the agency?
It allows prioritization of referrals, ensures eligibility and readiness, prevents service delays, and supports high-quality care from the start
It reduces the need for any communication with referral sources
It guarantees faster billing cycles regardless of documentation quality
It eliminates the need for ongoing quality assurance processes
What is the primary purpose of the initial staffing step?
To collect insurance information
To confirm clinician availability for the Start of Care (SOC) visit
To review the patient’s discharge summary
To assign billing codes for services
When should the SOC visit be scheduled?
Whenever the clinician is available, regardless of agency policy
Within the required timeframe per agency policy or as stated in the referral packet
Only after discharge from another facility
Two weeks after referral acceptance
After confirming clinician availability, the next step is to:
Accept the patient in the referral portal or call the referral source to confirm acceptance and SOC date
Wait for the clinical manager’s approval before doing anything
Enter all data into the EMR immediately
Notify the billing department first
