CPC Exam Questions & Answers
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam • AAPC
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Sample CPC Questions
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According to the ICD-10-CM Guidelines, what code is reported as an additional code when the blood pressure of a patient with hypertension remains above goal in spite of the use of antihypertensive medications?
According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines, I11A.0 (Resistant hypertension) is used to indicate hypertension that remains uncontrolled despite the use of multiple antihypertensive medications. Resistant hypertension is coded to highlight the severity of the patient's condition and the difficulty in managing their blood pressure. This code is added as a secondary code to reflect the persistent elevation of blood pressure despite medication.
A . I10 (Essential hypertension) is a general code for primary hypertension but does not specify resistance to treatment.
B . A code from category I27 is related to pulmonary heart diseases, not directly related to hypertension management issues.
D . A code from category I16 (Hypertensive crisis) is used for hypertensive emergencies or urgencies, which are acute episodes, not persistent uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment.
Thus, the correct answer is C. I11A.0, Resistant hypertension.
A patient in a radiology facility has an X-ray examination of her lumbosacral spine due to pain while playing golf. The radiologist takes a complete 7-view of the lumbosacral spine, including
bending views.
What CPT code is reported?
1. Procedure and CPT Code Selection:
The patient underwent a 7-view X-ray of the lumbosacral spine, which included bending views. A complete set of views is captured.
CPT Code 72114 is appropriate for a complete lumbosacral spine X-ray with a minimum of six views. This code includes comprehensive imaging, such as bending and other specialized views, which were taken in this scenario.
2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:
Code 72020 is for a single-view X-ray of the spine, which is not adequate to describe a 7-view series.
Code 72080 is for a two- or three-view X-ray of the thoracolumbar spine, which does not cover the full set of seven views described in this scenario.
Code 72084 represents a complete thoracic spine study with multiple views but does not specifically cover the lumbosacral spine, which is the focus of this X-ray examination.
3. AAPC and CPT Coding Guidelines:
According to AAPC and CPT guidelines, 72114 is the correct choice for a complete lumbosacral spine study involving multiple views, including specialized views like bending.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. 72114.
The CPT code book provides full descriptions of medical procedures, with some descriptions requiring the use of a semicolon (;) to distinguish among closely related procedures.
What is the full description of CPT code 35860?
In the CPT code book, code 35860 describes an 'Exploration for postoperative hemorrhage, thrombosis or infection' in multiple areas, specifically including the neck, chest, abdomen, and/or extremity. This code is used when a surgeon explores these areas postoperatively to locate and address complications such as bleeding, clots, or infections.
B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not fully encompass all the areas listed in the actual description of CPT code 35860, which includes all four regions (neck, chest, abdomen, and extremity).
Thus, the correct answer is A. Exploration for postoperative hemorrhage, thrombosis or infection; neck, chest, abdomen, and/or extremity.
Preoperative diagnosis: Right thigh benign congenital hairy nevus. *1
Postoperative diagnosis: Right thigh benign congenital hairy 0 nevus.
Operation performed: Excision of right thigh benign congenital>1
nevus, excision size with margins 4.5 cm and closure size 5 cm.
Anesthesia: General.0
Intraoperative antibiotics: Ancef.0
Indications: The patient is a 5-year-old girl who presented with her parents for evaluation of her right thigh congenital nevus. It has been followed by pediatrics and thought to have changed over the past year. Family requested excision. They understood the risks involved, which included but were not limited to risks of general
anesthesia, infection, bleeding, wound dehiscence, and poor scar formation. They understood the scar would likely widen as the child grows because of the location of it and because of the age of the patient. They consented to proceed.
Description of procedure: The patient was seen preoperatively in > I the holding area, identified, and then brought to the operating room. Once adequate general anesthesia had been induced, the patient's right thigh was prepped and draped in standard surgical fashion. An elliptical excision measuring 6 x 1.8 cm had been marked. This was injected with Lidocaine with epinephrine, total of 6 cc of 1% with 1:100,000. After an adequate amount of time, a #15 blade was used to sharply excise this full thickness.
This was passed to pathology for review. The wound required limited undermining in the deep subcutaneous plane on both sides for approximately 1.5 cm in order to allow mobilization of the skin for closure. The skin was then closed in a layered fashion using 3-0 Vicryl on the dermis and then 4-0 Monocryl running subcuticular in the skin, the wound was cleaned and dressed with Dermabond and Steri-Strips.
The patient was then cleaned and turned over to anesthesia for S extubation.
She was extubated successfully in the operating room and taken S to the recovery room in stable condition. There were no complications.
What CPT and ICD-10-CM codes are reported?
45540 = Repair of rectal prolapse, abdominal approach
52332 = Cystourethroscopy with ureteral stent
K62.3 = Rectal prolapse
Which statement is FALSE in reporting a personal history ICD-10-CM code?
In ICD-10-CM coding, personal history codes are used to indicate a patient's past medical conditions that no longer exist and are not receiving active treatment, but that may influence current care or require continued monitoring.
A . is correct because a personal history code can indeed be reported as a primary code if the encounter is specifically for screening due to a past condition.
B . is correct because personal history codes can be reported with follow-up codes to indicate that the patient is being monitored for recurrence of the past condition.
D . is correct because a personal history code is used when the patient no longer has or is being treated for that condition, but it remains relevant to the patient's health history.
C . is false because a personal history code is not used indiscriminately on any medical record; it is only appropriate when the past condition is relevant to the current encounter or impacts current patient care.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. A personal history code is acceptable on any medical record regardless of the reason of the visit.
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