American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

Which of the following statements about the Patient Safety Rule is accurate?

1. It governs hospital billing procedures

2. It focuses on improving patient care event analysis

3. It regulates medical equipment sales

4. It mandates patient financial disclosure

The correct answer is: It focuses on improving patient care event analysis

The Patient Safety Rule is primarily focused on improving patient safety and healthcare quality through the collection and analysis of data related to patient safety events. This rule requires healthcare organizations to report adverse events and near misses, allowing for a systematic way to analyze these occurrences and implement strategies for improvement. By concentrating on the analysis of safety events, the Patient Safety Rule directly engages in enhancing patient care practices and preventing future incidents, which aligns perfectly with the answer selected. The other statements do not accurately reflect the focus of the Patient Safety Rule. The regulation of billing procedures, medical equipment sales, and mandates concerning patient financial disclosures are governed by different regulations or rules within the healthcare system and are not part of the core objectives of the Patient Safety Rule.