AAPC AAPC-CPC Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

AAPC AAPC-CPC Online Questions & Answers

• Question 251:

  A couple presents to the freestanding fertility clinic to start in vitro fertilization. Under radiologic guidance, an aspiration needle is inserted (by aid of a superimposed guiding-line) puncturing the ovary and preovulatory follicle and withdrawing fluid from the follicle containing the egg.

  What is the correct CPT code for this procedure?

  A. 58976
  B. 58974
  C. 58999
  D. 58970
  D. 58970

• Question 252:

  A 45-year-old patient has a history of chronic otitis media in the left ear. The otolaryngologist performs a tympanoplasty and does not remove the mastoid to repair the patient's perforated tympanic membrane.

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

  A. 69631, H66.92, H72.92
  B. 69635, H72.822, H66.92
  C. 69610, H66.92, H72.92
  D. 69632, H72.822, H66.92
  A. 69631, H66.92, H72.92

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  Explanation

  A tympanoplasty repairs a perforated tympanic membrane. The key phrase "does not remove the mastoid" means this is tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy, which is correctly represented by 69631 in the answer set.

  Codes that include mastoid work or represent different tympanoplasty variants are incorrect because the documentation explicitly states the mastoid was not removed.

  Diagnosis coding should reflect both the chronic otitis media and the perforation. In the options, H66.92 represents otitis media, as offered, and H72.92 represents perforation of the tympanic membrane, as offered.

  Although the clinical story specifies the left ear, the provided diagnosis options do not include laterality. In CPC-style questions, choose the best match among the answer choices.

  Therefore, the correct combination within this question's choices is 69631 with H66.92 and H72.92, matching tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy plus the documented conditions.

• Question 253:

  A patient is seen for nausea, vomiting, and sharp right lower abdominal pain. CT and laboratory results support a diagnosis of chronic appendicitis. The physician schedules an open appendectomy and removes the appendix.

  What CPT(R) and diagnosis codes are reported?

  A. 44950, K36, R11.2, R10.31
  B. 44970, K35.80
  C. 44950, K36
  D. 44950, K35.80
  C. 44950, K36

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  Explanation

  The operative approach is explicitly open surgery, so the correct CPT(R) procedure code is 44950, appendectomy; open. Code 44970 is the laparoscopic appendectomy code and is not supported because the scenario states "open surgery."

  For diagnosis, the physician's final diagnosis is chronic appendicitis, which is reported with K36, other appendicitis, in the context of this question's choices. K35.80 represents acute appendicitis, unspecified, and does not match "chronic."

  You also do not report symptom codes, such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, once a definitive diagnosis is established and documented as the reason for the surgery, unless a guideline or scenario specifically requires them as additional reporting. This question does not.

  Therefore, the correct pairing is 44950 with K36 only.

  CPC exam tip: Always match the approach, open versus laparoscopic, and code the final confirmed diagnosis rather than presenting symptoms when the definitive diagnosis is known.

• Question 254:

  A pathologist performs fluorescent microscopy for chromosomal abnormalities, but no specific CPT(R) code exists.

  Which unlisted CPT(R) code is reported?

  A. 84999
  B. 88749
  C. 88199
  D. 88299
  D. 88299

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  Explanation

  88299 = Unlisted cytogenetic study.

  Other unlisted codes are for chemistry, immunology, or pathology.

• Question 255:

  What ICD-10-CM coding is reported for a patient who has hypertension and CKD stage 2?

  A. I12.0, N18.2
  B. I12.9, N18.2
  C. E03.9
  D. I10, E66.9
  B. I12.9, N18.2

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  Explanation

  When hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are documented together, ICD-10-CM assumes a cause-and-effect relationship.

  I12.9 = Hypertensive chronic kidney disease with stage 1 through stage 4 CKD or unspecified CKD.

  N18.2 = CKD stage 2.

  I12.0 is only for CKD stage 5 or ESRD, which does not apply here.

  Therefore, the correct code combination is I12.9, N18.2.

• Question 256:

  A 44-year-old female patient with chest pains had a CT of her chest that identified a mass in her left lower lung. The patient currently has ovarian cancer with metastases to the liver. The radiologist suspects the cancer has spread to her lungs. The physician performed an outpatient bronchoscopic biopsy and the pathology report documents the mass as a tumor of uncertain behavior.

  What ICD-10-CM codes are reported for this patient?

  A. R91.8, C56.9, C78.7
  B. C56.9, C78.7, C78.02
  C. C78.02, C22.9, C79.82
  D. D38.1, C56.9, C78.7
  A. R91.8, C56.9, C78.7

• Question 257:

  Two weeks after removal of a 4 cm subcutaneous lipoma, the patient presents with extensive internal wound dehiscence requiring multi-layer closure in the OR.

  What CPT(R) coding is reported by the surgeon?

  A. 13160-78
  B. 13160-58
  C. 13101-78
  D. 13101-58
  A. 13160-78

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  Explanation

  Repair of wound dehiscence is reported with CPT 13160, secondary closure of surgical wound or dehiscence, extensive or complicated. The procedure occurs during the global period and is an unplanned return to the operating room; therefore, modifier -78 is appended.

  Modifier -58 is for staged or planned procedures.

• Question 258:

  A patient undergoes MRI-guided needle liver biopsy with two core samples taken.

  What CPT(R) codes are reported?

  A. 47000, 77002
  B. 47000, 47001, 77021
  C. 47001, 77012
  D. 47000, 77021
  D. 47000, 77021

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  Explanation

  47000 = Percutaneous liver biopsy 77021 = MRI guidance for needle placement Multiple cores are included in the biopsy code.

• Question 259:

  A patient presents to the office with dysuria and lower abdominal pain. The physician suspects she has a UTI. A non-automated urinalysis is done in the office and is negative. UTI is ruled out for the final diagnosis.

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

  A. 81000, N39.0
  B. 81000, R30.0, R10.30
  C. 81002, R30.0, R10.30
  D. 81002, N39.0
  C. 81002, R30.0, R10.30

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  Explanation

  The urinalysis performed was non-automated and without microscopy.

  CPT(R) code 81002 is appropriate for a non-automated urinalysis without microscopy. This code accurately reflects the test performed in the office.

  ICD-10-CM code R30.0 is used for dysuria, which was one of the patient's presenting symptoms.

  ICD-10-CM code R10.30 is used for lower abdominal pain, another presenting symptom.

  Since the urinalysis ruled out a urinary tract infection, N39.0, UTI, is not appropriate as a final diagnosis.

  Code 81000 is for urinalysis with microscopy, which was not performed here.

  AAPC and CPT(R) coding guidelines support coding the symptoms when a specific diagnosis, such as UTI, is ruled out.

  Thus, the correct answer is C. 81002, R30.0, R10.30.

• Question 260:

  Multiple laceration repairs were performed: Simple: cheek (2.5 cm), nose (3 cm) Intermediate: left leg (9 cm), right leg (11.5 cm) Complex: left upper arm (4 cm)

  What CPT(R) codes are reported?

  A. 13121, 12036-59, 12013-59, 12011-59
  B. 13121, 12034-RT, 12034-LT, 12014-59
  C. 13121, 12036-59, 12034-59, 12013-59, 12011-59
  D. 13121, 12036-59, 12014-59
  A. 13121, 12036-59, 12013-59, 12011-59

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  Explanation

  13121 = Complex repair, arm.

  12036 = Intermediate repair, legs total length.

  12013, 12011 = Simple facial repairs.