Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) Practice Test 2026 - Free CHC Practice Questions and Study Resources

In a healthcare compliance setting, "overpayment" specifically refers to the situation where a healthcare provider receives money that exceeds the appropriate or correct amount that should be payable for the services rendered. This can occur due to errors in billing, incorrect coding, or any discrepancies in the reimbursement process that lead to providers being compensated beyond the actual value of the services they provided.

Understanding overpayments is crucial for compliance, as healthcare providers have a legal obligation to report and return any overpayments to payers, including Medicare or private insurers. This ensures that the integrity of the healthcare reimbursement system is maintained and helps prevent fraudulent activities, which could result from failing to address overpayments. Compliance programs must include robust mechanisms for monitoring and identifying any overpayments to rectify the situation and remain within legal and ethical guidelines.

The other options refer to different financial concepts that are unrelated to overpayment in a compliance context. Payments received late do not impact the determination of overpayment; charges for services not covered by insurance are not classified as overpayments since they were not valid claims to begin with; and funds allocated for employee bonuses are entirely separate from the considerations of payment for services and compliance regulations.