AAPC AAPC-CPC Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

AAPC AAPC-CPC Online Questions & Answers

• Question 121:

  A 55-year-old patient with suspected liver cancer was seen by the physician to obtain a biopsy. The special biopsy needle was placed using ultrasonic guidance. The physician obtained a small tissue sample from the liver, which was then sent to pathology.

  What CPT codes are reported?

  A. 47000, 77002-26
  B. 47000, 10005
  C. 47100, 77012-26
  D. 47000, 76942-26
  D. 47000, 76942-26

• Question 122:

  A patient with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receives hemodialysis 3 times weekly in the office for one month. The nephrologist performs a comprehensive exam and supervises dialysis.

  What CPT(R) and ICD-10-CM codes are reported?

  A. 90966, N18.5
  B. 90960, N18.5, Z99.2
  C. 90960, N18.6, Z99.2
  D. 90966, N18.6
  C. 90960, N18.6, Z99.2

  ---

  Explanation

  90960 = ESRD-related services for one full month, for patients 20 years of age and older, with 4 or more face-to-face physician or other qualified health care professional visits per month.

  N18.6 = End-stage renal disease.

  Z99.2 = Dependence on renal dialysis.

  Therefore, the correct answer is C. 90960, N18.6, Z99.2

• Question 123:

  ESTABLISHED PATIENT VISIT: A 37-year-old woman presents with coughing, congestion, upper respiratory symptoms, and headache for two days. Complete ROS negative except as noted. No significant past/family history. Exam: stable vitals, nasal congestion, normal TMs, occasional rhonchi, no wheezing, normal heart, soft abdomen. Assessment/Plan: Acute upper respiratory infection, fluids, amoxicillin for 5-7 days, return precautions.

  What CPT(R) code is reported?

  A. 99214
  B. 99213
  C. 99212
  D. 99215
  B. 99213

  ---

  Explanation

  This is an established patient office visit coded by MDM or time, but time is not provided.

  Problems: one acute, uncomplicated illness (URI) supports low problem complexity.

  Data: no labs/imaging ordered or reviewed, minimal/no data.

  Risk: although a prescription is given, MDM level is determined by 2 of 3 elements: Problems, Data, and Risk.

  Here, only the risk might approach moderate due to prescription management, but problems and data remain low/minimal, so the overall MDM does not meet moderate. Therefore, the visit is best supported at low MDM, which corresponds to 99213 for an established patient. It is more than minimal (99212) because a focused exam and management plan are documented, but it does not meet the higher complexity required for 99214/99215, such as multiple problems, significant data review, or high-risk management.

  CPC exam focus: Do not let a single element, like antibiotics, automatically "force" a higher code.

  MDM requires meeting the level in two elements.

• Question 124:

  A pediatrician removes impacted cerumen using irrigation in the right ear and instrumentation in the left ear.

  What CPT(R) coding is reported?

  A. 69209-RT, 69210-LT
  B. 69210-50
  C. 69209-LT, 69210-RT
  D. 69209-50
  A. 69209-RT, 69210-LT

  ---

  Explanation

  69209 = Cerumen removal using irrigation.

  69210 = Cerumen removal using instrumentation.

  Different techniques on different ears require separate codes with laterality modifiers.

• Question 125:

  A 50-year-old patient undergoes flexible bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsies. Five biopsies are taken and sent to the lab.

  What CPT(R) coding is reported?

  A. 31625 x 5
  B. 31628
  C. 31625
  D. 31628 x 5
  B. 31628

  ---

  Explanation

  For bronchoscopy coding, report the CPT code that describes the type of scope and the key procedure performed. When bronchial biopsies are performed, the service is reported with the appropriate bronchoscopy-with-biopsy code, and the code is not multiplied by the number of biopsy samples.

  CPT 31625 describes bronchoscopy with bronchial or endobronchial biopsy, single or multiple sites. 31628 describes transbronchial lung biopsy and is not supported by the documentation.

  Options that apply "x5" reflect a common novice error: billing per specimen rather than per procedure.

  Therefore, the correct answer is Option C, 31625.

• Question 126:

  During the course of a hospital admission, Dr. Miller requests an orthopedist see his patient for osteoporosis. The orthopedist sees the patient on day 3 of admission. He performs a history and exam. He evaluates the patient's osteoporosis.

  He orders a bone density study and prescribes Boniva for the patient.

  What CPT code is reported by the orthopedist?

  A. 99223
  B. 99232
  C. 99253
  D. 99221
  D. 99221

• Question 127:

  A comatose patient is seen in the ER. The patient has a history of depression. Drug testing confirm she overdosed on tricyclic antidepressant drugs doxepin, amoxapine, and clomipramine.

  What CPT code is reported?

  A. 80366
  B. 80335
  C. 80332
  D. 80338
  A. 80366

• Question 128:

  An interventional radiologist performs an abdominal paracentesis in his office utilizing ultrasonic imaging guidance to remove excess fluid.

  What CPT coding is reported?

  A. 49082, 76942
  B. 49083, 76942-26
  C. 49083
  D. 49082, 76942-26
  C. 49083

• Question 129:

  An elderly patient comes into the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath. An ECG is performed.

  The final diagnosis at discharge is impending myocardial infarction.

  According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, how is this reported?

  A. I20.0
  B. R06.02
  C. I20.0, R06.02
  D. I21.3, R06.02
  B. R06.02

• Question 130:

  A 55-year-old patient was recently diagnosed with an enlarged goiter. It has been two years since her last visit to the endocrinologist. A new doctor in the exact same specialty group will be examining her. The physician performs a medically appropriate history and exam. The provider reviewed the TSH results and ultrasound. The provider orders a fine needle aspiration biopsy which is a minor procedure.

  What E/M code is reported?

  A. 99202
  B. 99214
  C. 99205
  D. 99213
  B. 99214