CERTIFICATION EVALUATION QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
●● A 22 year-old patient who has severe medical problems is placed
under general anesthesia by an anesthetist for a service not usually
requiring anesthesia. What modifier would be appended to the service?
Answer: 23
Rationale: In the CPT® codebook go to Appendix A - Modifiers.
Review the modifiers to determine that modifier 23 is reported to
indicate a procedure not usually requiring anesthesia (either none or
local) but due to unusual circumstances general anesthesia is necessary.
●● What is the anesthesia code for a mediastinoscopy utilizing OLV
(one lung ventilation)?
Answer: 00529
Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for Anesthesia/Mediastinoscopy
directing you to codes 00528, 00529. These codes represent
mediastinoscopy and diagnostic thoracoscopy. Review the codes in the
numeric section to determine that 00529 describes the procedure
utilizing one lung ventilation (OLV).
, ●● Report the appropriate anesthesia code for an obstetric patient who
had a planned general anesthesia for cesarean hysterectomy.
Answer: 01963
Rationale: Use the CPT® Index look for
Anesthesia/Hysterectomy/Cesarean which directs you to 01963, 01969.
Review the codes in the numeric section to determine that code 01963 is
the appropriate code. Note: Code 01969 is an add-on code and cannot be
coded without a primary procedure code.
●● What is the anesthesia code for a shoulder arthroscopy which
became an open procedure on the shoulder joint?
Answer: 01630
Rationale: In the CPT® Index, look for Anesthesia/Arthroscopic
Procedures/Shoulder which directs you to code range 01622-01638.
Review the codes in the numeric section to determine 01630 is the
appropriate code selection because the description of the code includes
open or surgical arthroscopic procedures.
●● What is the anesthesia code for an insertion of a penile prosthesis
performed via a perineal approach?
Answer: 00938