Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

Which type of claim is specifically a request for payment that does not cover a complete stay in a facility?

1. Final claim

2. Interim claim

3. Adjustment claim

4. Supplemental claim

The correct answer is: Interim claim

An interim claim is a type of request for payment that is submitted during a patient's stay in a healthcare facility, before the stay is completed. This claim allows providers to receive partial payment for services rendered up to that point in time, rather than waiting until the entirety of the stay has concluded. This can be particularly beneficial for managing cash flow and ensuring that healthcare providers are compensated for the care they are continually providing. Interim claims typically cover a specified portion of care and are used when billing practices require or allow for multiple payments throughout a patient's treatment timeline. By contrast, other types of claims, such as final claims, represent a complete billing for services after discharge, while adjustment and supplemental claims involve changes or additions to prior submitted claims, respectively. Thus, the defining characteristic of an interim claim as a request for payment that does not encompass an entire stay makes it the correct answer.