Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

When the total payments exceed the total amount of charges in a patient's account, it means there is a credit balance. This surplus indicates that the patient has overpaid or that adjustments in the billing have led to a balance that is in favor of the patient. The patient may be eligible for a refund or can use the credit toward future services. A debit balance would suggest the patient owes money to the practice. Accounts receivable and accounts payable are not specific balances on an individual patient's account; they represent the business's overall balance of incoming and outgoing payments respectively.