Which of the following is an administrative sanction for inappropriate and/or fraudulent behavior on the part of the provider?

• A. Denial or revocation of provider number application
• B. Issuance of new provider numbers
• C. Random audits of a clinic
• D. Counseling and education

Answer: (A)

Administrative sanctions are punitive actions taken by a regulator or payer that restrict a provider’s ability to participate in the program. Denying or revoking a provider number application fits this, because it directly removes the credential needed to enroll and bill, effectively stopping the provider from operating within the system. The other options are not sanctions: issuing new provider numbers isn’t punishment but expansion, random audits are surveillance to identify issues rather than punishment by themselves, and counseling and education are remedial steps to correct behavior rather than punitive actions.