BC-TMH (BOARD CERTIFIED-TELEMENTAL HEALTH) EXAMINATION
PREPARATION GUIDE: COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED A+ RATIONALES, COVERING ALL CORE COMPETENCIES –
INCLUDING CLINICAL BEST PRACTICES, HIPAA PRIVACY & SECURITY
RULES, TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE (CODECS,
BANDWIDTH, VPNS), INTERSTATE COMPACT REGULATIONS (PSYPACT),
ETHICAL STANDARDS, EMERGENCY CRISIS PROTOCOLS,
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS, AND MEDICARE/CMS
REIMBURSEMENT POLICIES FOR CERTIFICATION CYCLE
1. What is the primary distinguishing characteristic of telemental
health services compared to traditional in-person mental health
services?
A) Telemental health requires specialized licensing different from
traditional practice
B) Telemental health is the same service provided by different means
C) Telemental health can only be used for medication management
D) Telemental health does not require informed consent
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Telemental health and mental health services are not
separate services. It is the same service, provided by different means.
The therapeutic approaches, ethical standards, and clinical practices
remain consistent regardless of the delivery method.
,2. What does the term "telehealth" encompass?
A) Only direct psychotherapy services provided remotely
B) Only consultations between healthcare professionals
C) Broad services including direct patient care, consultations, education,
and care coordination
D) Only educational programs for healthcare professionals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Telehealth is a broad term having to do with providing health
care services from a distance. This includes direct services to clients,
consultations to other health care professionals, education related to
health care, and coordination of care.
3. Which organization is responsible for administering the Medicare
program?
A) Health and Human Services (HHS)
B) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
C) Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
D) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CMS is a federal agency within the United States Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers the Medicare
program and works in partnership with state governments to administer
Medicaid, SCHIP, and HIPAA standards.
4. What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?
,A) A healthcare organization that only provides telehealth services
B) A payment and care delivery model that ties provider
reimbursements to quality metrics and reductions in total cost of care
C) A regulatory body that oversees all telemedicine practices
D) A professional organization for mental health counselors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An ACO is a healthcare organization characterized by a
payment and care delivery model that seeks to tie provider
reimbursements to quality metrics and reductions in the total cost of
care for an assigned population of patients.
5. What is the definition of an analog signal?
A) A discrete function that only takes on one of a finite number of
values
B) A continuous signal where the time varying variable is represented by
another time varying quantity
C) A digital representation of medical images
D) A signal that can only transmit voice data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An analog signal is a continuous signal where the time
varying variable is represented by another time varying quantity. It
differs from a digital signal where a continuous quantity is represented
by a discrete function.
6. What is an Application Service Provider (ASP)?
, A) A company that provides internet connectivity to healthcare facilities
B) A provider that hosts applications on a central server for customers
to access for a fee
C) A software development company that creates telehealth
applications
D) A regulatory body that approves telehealth applications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An ASP hosts a variety of applications on a central server. For
a fee, customers can access the applications over secure Internet
connections or a private network, eliminating the need to purchase,
install or maintain the software themselves.
7. Which term describes store and forward transmission of medical
images and/or data?
A) Synchronous
B) Asynchronous
C) Real-time
D) Simultaneous
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asynchronous describes store and forward transmission of
medical images and/or data because the data transfer takes place over
a period of time, and typically in separate time frames. The
transmission typically does not take place simultaneously.
8. What is Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)?
PREPARATION GUIDE: COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED A+ RATIONALES, COVERING ALL CORE COMPETENCIES –
INCLUDING CLINICAL BEST PRACTICES, HIPAA PRIVACY & SECURITY
RULES, TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE (CODECS,
BANDWIDTH, VPNS), INTERSTATE COMPACT REGULATIONS (PSYPACT),
ETHICAL STANDARDS, EMERGENCY CRISIS PROTOCOLS,
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS, AND MEDICARE/CMS
REIMBURSEMENT POLICIES FOR CERTIFICATION CYCLE
1. What is the primary distinguishing characteristic of telemental
health services compared to traditional in-person mental health
services?
A) Telemental health requires specialized licensing different from
traditional practice
B) Telemental health is the same service provided by different means
C) Telemental health can only be used for medication management
D) Telemental health does not require informed consent
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Telemental health and mental health services are not
separate services. It is the same service, provided by different means.
The therapeutic approaches, ethical standards, and clinical practices
remain consistent regardless of the delivery method.
,2. What does the term "telehealth" encompass?
A) Only direct psychotherapy services provided remotely
B) Only consultations between healthcare professionals
C) Broad services including direct patient care, consultations, education,
and care coordination
D) Only educational programs for healthcare professionals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Telehealth is a broad term having to do with providing health
care services from a distance. This includes direct services to clients,
consultations to other health care professionals, education related to
health care, and coordination of care.
3. Which organization is responsible for administering the Medicare
program?
A) Health and Human Services (HHS)
B) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
C) Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
D) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CMS is a federal agency within the United States Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers the Medicare
program and works in partnership with state governments to administer
Medicaid, SCHIP, and HIPAA standards.
4. What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?
,A) A healthcare organization that only provides telehealth services
B) A payment and care delivery model that ties provider
reimbursements to quality metrics and reductions in total cost of care
C) A regulatory body that oversees all telemedicine practices
D) A professional organization for mental health counselors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An ACO is a healthcare organization characterized by a
payment and care delivery model that seeks to tie provider
reimbursements to quality metrics and reductions in the total cost of
care for an assigned population of patients.
5. What is the definition of an analog signal?
A) A discrete function that only takes on one of a finite number of
values
B) A continuous signal where the time varying variable is represented by
another time varying quantity
C) A digital representation of medical images
D) A signal that can only transmit voice data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An analog signal is a continuous signal where the time
varying variable is represented by another time varying quantity. It
differs from a digital signal where a continuous quantity is represented
by a discrete function.
6. What is an Application Service Provider (ASP)?
, A) A company that provides internet connectivity to healthcare facilities
B) A provider that hosts applications on a central server for customers
to access for a fee
C) A software development company that creates telehealth
applications
D) A regulatory body that approves telehealth applications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An ASP hosts a variety of applications on a central server. For
a fee, customers can access the applications over secure Internet
connections or a private network, eliminating the need to purchase,
install or maintain the software themselves.
7. Which term describes store and forward transmission of medical
images and/or data?
A) Synchronous
B) Asynchronous
C) Real-time
D) Simultaneous
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asynchronous describes store and forward transmission of
medical images and/or data because the data transfer takes place over
a period of time, and typically in separate time frames. The
transmission typically does not take place simultaneously.
8. What is Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)?
