Detailed answers for practice cpc exam bundles
CPC Practice Exam A answers
1-C
According to CPT® guidelines “Repair of an excision of a malignant lesion requiring intermediate or complex closure should be reported separately”. The intermediate repair code is reported because it was a la...
CPC Practice Exam A answers
1-C
According to CPT® guidelines “Repair of an excision of a malignant lesion requiring intermediate or
complex closure should be reported separately”. The intermediate repair code is reported because it
was a layered closure
2-C
Debridement is not being performed on an open fracture/open dislocation eliminating multiple choice
answer B. The ulcer was debrided all the way to the bone of the foot, making multiple choice answer C,
the correct procedure.
3-D
To start narrowing your choices down, the hand and foot were closed with adhesive strips. The Section
Guidelines in the CPT® manual for Repair (Closure) states: “Wound closure utilizing adhesive strips as
the sole repair material should be coded using the appropriate E/M code.” Eliminating multiple choice
answers A and B. The lacerations on the face are intermediate repairs, because debridement and glass
debris was removed. The guidelines in the CPT® codebook for Repair (Closure) states: “Single-layer
closure of heavily contaminated wounds that have required extensive cleaning or removal of particulate
matter also constitutes intermediate repair.” Eliminating multiple choice answer C. The intermediate
repair of the lacerations to the face totaled 6 cm (12053). The right arm and left leg had cuts measuring 5
cm each which totaled 10 cm requiring intermediate repair (12034).
4-C
The mass growing turned out to be a lipoma found in the subcutaneous tissue of the flank. In the ICD-10-
CM Alphabetic Index, look for Lipoma/subcutaneous/trunk. You are referred to code D17.1, eliminating
multiple choice answers A and D. Because the 4 cm tumor was found in the subcutaneous tissue code
21931 is the correct CPT® code to report.
5-A
Patient had an open reduction, meaning an incision was made to get to the fracture, eliminating multiple
choice answer B. The fracture site was the scaphoid of the wrist (carpal), eliminating multiple choices C
and D.
6-D
Your keywords in the scenario to narrow your choices down to code 27485 are: "distal femur,"“genu
valgum,” and “hemiepiphysiodesis.”
7-C
Patient is having an Infuse-A-Port put in his chest to receive chemotherapy. The subclavian vein (central
venous) is being tunneled for the access device, eliminating multiple choices A and D. The patient had a
subcutaneous pocket created to insert the power port, eliminating multiple choice answer B. Code 77001
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,reports fluoroscopic guidance for a central venous access device. Modifier 26 denotes the professional
service.
8-A
The drainage of fluid from the pleural cavity was performed via needle (percutaneous) with insertion of
an indwelling catheter to drain the fluid, eliminating multiple choice answers B and D. The procedure
was performed under ultrasound guidance, eliminating multiple choice answer C.
9-B
The procedure involved removing plaque and the vessel lining from the carotid artery through a neck
incision, eliminating multiple choice answers C and D. This was a re-operation (35390), as the original
surgery was performed a year ago.
10-B
One way to narrow down your choices is by the diagnosis. The patient has chronic cholecystitis. In the
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, look for Cholecystitis/chronic, referring you to code K81.1. Verify code in
the Tabular List for accuracy. This eliminates multiple choice A and C. The patient had a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy, eliminating multiple choice answer D.
11-B
The patient is having a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, eliminating multiple choice answer A. The
hernia is not documented as being incarcerated or strangulated, eliminating multiple choice answer C. A
parenthetical note under the code description for 49652 indicates that a mesh insertion (49568) is not
reported with this code when performed; eliminating multiple choice answer D.
12-A
Patient is having the surgery performed by a laparoscope, eliminating multiple choice answers B and C.
The surgical procedure performed was an appendectomy, eliminating multiple choice D.
13-B
This is a surgical laparoscopic procedure for removing the kidney (nephrectomy), eliminating multiple
choice answers C and D. The whole kidney was taken out from a donor and put on ice (cold
preservation), eliminating multiple choice answer A.
14-A
Removal or revision of the sling is not being performed, eliminating multiple choice answer B. The
procedure was an open surgery, eliminating multiple choice answer D. Cystoscopy procedure code is a
separate procedure. According to CPT® Surgery guidelines, The codes designated as a “separate
procedure” should not be reported in addition to the code for the total procedure or service of which it is
considered an integral component.” Meaning that the cystoscopy is included with the sling operation
procedure because it was performed in the same surgical session.
15-C
The physician is not incising the membrane that attaches the foreskin to the glans and shaft of the penis
(frenulum), eliminating multiple choice D. The patient is not having the circumcision for the first time, but
needed a repair from a previous circumcision, eliminating multiple choice answers A and B.
16-D
The key term to narrow your choices down is the removal of “labial adhesions”. This is found in the
code descriptive for multiple choice answer D, 56441.
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,17-C
This was a removal of an intrathecal catheter and pump, eliminating multiple choice answer D. The pump
is not being implanted or replaced eliminating multiple choice answer B. Nor is the intrathecal catheter
being implanted, revised or repositioned eliminating multiple choice answer A.
Diagnosis Rationale: This was a surgical complication; an infection due to an implant, eliminating
multiple choice answers A and D.
18-B
This key word to choose the correct shunt being performed is “ventriculo-peritoneal”, leading you to
multiple choice answer B.
19-C
The key term to choose the correct answer is “median nerve”, found in code 64721.
20-D
There is more than a single chalazion to be removed, eliminating multiple choice answer C. The
chalazion was on the upper and lower lid, eliminating multiple choice answer A. The patient was under
general anesthesia, eliminating multiple choice answer B.
21-B
Scenario documents patient returning to the gynecologist guiding you to the codes for established
patient office visit. This eliminates multiple choices A and C. For this scenario, the patient did not have
any complaints that required the presence of a physician. There was no examination or medical making
decision performed for the patient guiding you to code 99211. There must be an order for the patient to
come in for the office visit. For the diagnosis code, the pessary was removed for cleaning reporting
Z46.89 Encounter for fitting and adjustment of other specified devices. (Refer to ICD-10-CM guideline
I.A.9)
22-C
According to CPT® guidelines: When the patient is admitted to the hospital as an inpatient in the course
of an encounter in another site of service (example, hospital emergency department, observation status
in a hospital, physician’s office, nursing facility) all evaluation and management services provided by
that physician in conjunction with that admission are considered part of the initial hospital care when
performed on the same date of service. Meaning for this scenario the patient’s physician had come to
the ER and also admitted the patient on the same date of service, eliminating multiple choices A and B.
All three of the key components of an initial hospital care code must be met or exceeded. 99221
requires: detailed or comprehensive history, detailed or comprehensive examination, and
straightforward or low complexity medical decision making. Because the lowest key component in the
question is a detailed history, the highest level that can be reached is 99221. To report code 99222 you
would need a comprehensive history.
23-A
According to CPT® subsection guidelines under Inpatient Neonatal and Pediatric Critical Care: If the
same physician provides critical care services for a neonatal or pediatric patient in both the outpatient
and inpatient setting on the same day, report only the appropriate Neonatal or Pediatric Critical Care
codes 99468-99476 for all critical care services provided on that day. This eliminates multiple choice
answers C and D. The baby is 20 days-old and you cannot bill intubation (31500) and ventilation
management with the neonatal and pediatric critical care codes, eliminating multiple choice B.
24-C
The patient receives anesthesia for a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Look the CPT® Index, for
Anesthesia/Nephrectomy. You are referred to 00862. Review the code in the numeric section to verify
accuracy. The patient has controlled type 2 diabetes which supports the use of P2. The patient has renal
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, pelvis cancer. The distinction of secondary cancer is not made so the cancer is coded as a primary
neoplasm. Go to the Table of Neoplasms and look for Neoplasm, neoplastic/kidney/pelvis/Malignant
Primary column. You are referred to C65.-. Complete code in the Tabular List, C65.9. The patient also
has controlled type 2 diabetes. Look in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index for Diabetes/type 2 referring you
to E11.9.
25-C
The patient receives monitored anesthesia care also known as MAC which is reported with HCPCS Level
II modifier QS. There is no indication the patient has a history of cardiopulmonary condition so G9 would
not be appropriate. Look in the CPT® Index for Anesthesia/Forearm. You are referred to multiple codes
(00400, 01810-01820, 01830-01860). Refer to these codes in the numeric section to determine the correct
code using the code descriptions. The procedure was open and performed on the distal radius. The
appropriate code is 01830.
26-B
The patient receives general anesthesia for the removal of a laryngeal mass. Look in the CPT® Index for
Anesthesia/Larynx. You are referred to 00320 and 00326. Review the code descriptions in the numeric
section. Code 00326 is the correct code to indicate the procedure is performed on a patient younger than
one year. 99100 is not reported because the patient’s age range is included in the description of the
anesthesia code. There is a parenthetical note under 00326 that indicates the code should not be
reported with 99100.
27-D
Selecting the correct answer can be tackled two ways:
(1) A third order selective catheter placement in the brachiocephalic system was not performed,
eliminating multiple choice answers A and C. Bilateral angiography of the lower extremities was not
performed, eliminating multiple choice answer B. Arterial access was the left common femoral artery and
the catheter was directed into the right common iliac (36245 – first order) into right external iliac (36246-
second order). The catheter was then directed to the common femoral into the superficial femoral artery
(36247-third order). Report only the highest level of catheter placement 36247. Angiography for the right
extremity is 75710. Modifier 26 denotes the professional service.
OR
(2) A right lower extremity angiogram was performed. Code 75736 is eliminated because that is for the
pelvis. Code 75716 is eliminated because that is if both extremities had an angiogram. Code 75756 is
eliminated because that is for the internal mammary. Code 75710 is the correct angiography code.
28-C
The radiological service is a screening mammogram of both breasts eliminating multiple choices A, B
and D. Note: If this was a bilateral diagnostic mammogram you only report code 77066 because the code
is specifically for both breasts. You will not report 77065 and 77066, or report 77065 twice or with a
modifier 50. Code 77066 also does not have modifier 50 appended because the code description already
indicates that it is a bilateral code.
29-B
This procedure was performed bilaterally (stents placed in the right and left ureter), eliminating multiple
choice answer A and C. The pyelogram was retrograde, eliminating multiple choice answer D.
Retrograde pyelogram is included in cystoscopy, 52005. The stent placement 52332-50 correctly reports
the bilateral procedure. Modifier 26 is correctly appended to 74420 because the procedure was
performed in an outpatient facility with the physician interpreting the radiological service.
30-B
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