AHIMA CCA EXAMS SCRIPT 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔11.
In the laboratory section of CPT, if a group of tests overlaps two or more panels, report
the panel that incorporates the greatest number of tests to fulfill the code definition.
What would a coder do with the remaining test codes that are not part of a panel?
a. Report the remaining tests using individual test codes, according to CPT.
b. Do not report the remaining individual test codes.
c. Report only those test codes that are part of a panel.
d. Do not report a test code more than once regardless whether the test was performed
twice. - ✔✔Correct Answer: A
Reporting additional test codes that overlap codes in a panel allows the coder to assign
all appropriate codes for services provided. It is inappropriate to assign additional panel
codes when all codes in the panel are not performed. Reporting individual lab codes is
appropriate when all codes in a panel have not been provided (AMA 2012b, 402).
✔✔12.
An electrolyte panel (80051) in the laboratory section of CPT consists of tests for carbon
dioxide (82374), chloride (82435), potassium (84132), and sodium (84295). If each of
the component codes are reported and billed individually on a claim form, this would be
a form of:
a. Optimizing
b. Unbundling
c. Sequencing
d. Classifying - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
Unbundling occurs when a panel code exists and the individual tests are reported
rather than the panel code (AMA 2012b, 402).
✔✔13.
Coronary arteriography serves as a diagnostic tool in detecting obstruction within the
coronary arteries. Identify the technique using two catheters inserted percutaneously
through the femoral artery.
a. Combined right and left (88.54)
,b. Stones (88.55)
c. Judkins (88.56)
d. Other and unspecified (88.57) - ✔✔Correct Answer: C
The Judkins technique provides x-ray imaging of the coronary arteries by introducing
one catheter into the femoral artery with maneuvering up into the left coronary artery
orifice, followed by a second catheter guided up into the right coronary artery, and
subsequent injection of a contrast material (Schraffenberger 2012, 206).
✔✔Ensuring the continuity of future care by providing information to the patient's
attending physician, referring physician, and any consulting physicians is a function of
the:
a. Discharge summary
b. Autopsy report
c. Incident report
d. Consent to treatment - ✔✔Correct Answer: A
The discharge summary is a concise account of the patient's illness, course of
treatment, response to treatment, and condition at the time the patient is discharged
(Johns 2011, 78).
✔✔15.
This document includes a microscopic description of tissue excised during surgery:
a. Recovery room record
b. Pathology report
c. Operative report
d. Discharge summary - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
The pathology report describes specimens examined by the pathologist (Johns 2011,
77).
✔✔16.
CMS developed medically unlikely edits (MUEs) to prevent providers from billing units of
services greater than the norm would indicate. These MUEs were implemented on
January 1, 2007, and are applied to which code set?
,a. Diagnosis-related groups
b. HCPCS/CPT codes
c. ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes
d. Resource utilization groups - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
CMS developed MUEs to prevent providers from billing units in excess and receiving
inappropriate payments. This new editing was the result of the outpatient prospective
payment system which pays providers passed on the HCPCS/CPT code and units.
Payment is directly related to units for specified HCPCS/CPT codes assigned to an
ambulatory payment classification (CMS 2012b).
✔✔17.
Identify the ICD-9-CM diagnostic code for other specified aplastic anemia secondary to
chemotherapy.
a. 284.9
b. 284.89
c. 285.9
d. 285.22 - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
Index Anemia, aplastic, due to, antineoplastic chemotherapy. A coder should always
assign the most specific type of anemia. Anemia due to chemotherapy is often aplastic
(Schraffenberger 2012, 133-135 ).
✔✔18.
When the physician does not specify the method used to remove a lesion during an
endoscopy, what is the appropriate procedure?
a. Assign the removal by snare technique code.
b. Assign the removal by hot biopsy forceps code.
c. Assign the ablation code.
d. Query the physician as to the method used. - ✔✔Correct Answer: D
It is not appropriate for the coder to assume the removal was done by either snare or
hot biopsy forceps. The ablation code is only assigned when a lesion is completely
destroyed and no specimen is retrieved. The coding professional must query the
physician to assign the appropriate code (AHIMA 2012a, 607).
, ✔✔19.
What is the best reference tool to determine how CPT codes should be assigned?
a. Local coverage determination from Medicare
b. American Medical Association's CPT Assistant newsletter
c. American Hospital Association's Coding Clinic
d. CMS website - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
CPT Assistant provides additional CPT coding guidance on how to assign a CPT code
by providing intent on the use of the code and explanation of parenthetical instructions.
The American Medical Association publishes the guidance monthly (AMA 2012b).
✔✔20.
Identify the appropriate ICD-9-CM diagnosis code(s) for right and left bundle branch
block.
a. 426.3, 426.4
b. 426.53
c. 426.4, 426.53
d. 426.52 - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
Index Block, left, with right bundle branch block. Right and left bundle branch block is
inclusive of one code. It is inappropriate to assign a code for right (426.4) and left
(426.3) bundle branch block when a combination code includes both the right and left
(Schraffenberger 2012, 201-207).
✔✔21.
A software interface is a:
a. Device to enter data
b. Protocol for describing data
c. Program to exchange data
d. Standard vocabulary - ✔✔Correct Answer: C
A software interface is a computer program that allows different applications to
communicate and exchange data (Johns 2011, 137).
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔11.
In the laboratory section of CPT, if a group of tests overlaps two or more panels, report
the panel that incorporates the greatest number of tests to fulfill the code definition.
What would a coder do with the remaining test codes that are not part of a panel?
a. Report the remaining tests using individual test codes, according to CPT.
b. Do not report the remaining individual test codes.
c. Report only those test codes that are part of a panel.
d. Do not report a test code more than once regardless whether the test was performed
twice. - ✔✔Correct Answer: A
Reporting additional test codes that overlap codes in a panel allows the coder to assign
all appropriate codes for services provided. It is inappropriate to assign additional panel
codes when all codes in the panel are not performed. Reporting individual lab codes is
appropriate when all codes in a panel have not been provided (AMA 2012b, 402).
✔✔12.
An electrolyte panel (80051) in the laboratory section of CPT consists of tests for carbon
dioxide (82374), chloride (82435), potassium (84132), and sodium (84295). If each of
the component codes are reported and billed individually on a claim form, this would be
a form of:
a. Optimizing
b. Unbundling
c. Sequencing
d. Classifying - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
Unbundling occurs when a panel code exists and the individual tests are reported
rather than the panel code (AMA 2012b, 402).
✔✔13.
Coronary arteriography serves as a diagnostic tool in detecting obstruction within the
coronary arteries. Identify the technique using two catheters inserted percutaneously
through the femoral artery.
a. Combined right and left (88.54)
,b. Stones (88.55)
c. Judkins (88.56)
d. Other and unspecified (88.57) - ✔✔Correct Answer: C
The Judkins technique provides x-ray imaging of the coronary arteries by introducing
one catheter into the femoral artery with maneuvering up into the left coronary artery
orifice, followed by a second catheter guided up into the right coronary artery, and
subsequent injection of a contrast material (Schraffenberger 2012, 206).
✔✔Ensuring the continuity of future care by providing information to the patient's
attending physician, referring physician, and any consulting physicians is a function of
the:
a. Discharge summary
b. Autopsy report
c. Incident report
d. Consent to treatment - ✔✔Correct Answer: A
The discharge summary is a concise account of the patient's illness, course of
treatment, response to treatment, and condition at the time the patient is discharged
(Johns 2011, 78).
✔✔15.
This document includes a microscopic description of tissue excised during surgery:
a. Recovery room record
b. Pathology report
c. Operative report
d. Discharge summary - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
The pathology report describes specimens examined by the pathologist (Johns 2011,
77).
✔✔16.
CMS developed medically unlikely edits (MUEs) to prevent providers from billing units of
services greater than the norm would indicate. These MUEs were implemented on
January 1, 2007, and are applied to which code set?
,a. Diagnosis-related groups
b. HCPCS/CPT codes
c. ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes
d. Resource utilization groups - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
CMS developed MUEs to prevent providers from billing units in excess and receiving
inappropriate payments. This new editing was the result of the outpatient prospective
payment system which pays providers passed on the HCPCS/CPT code and units.
Payment is directly related to units for specified HCPCS/CPT codes assigned to an
ambulatory payment classification (CMS 2012b).
✔✔17.
Identify the ICD-9-CM diagnostic code for other specified aplastic anemia secondary to
chemotherapy.
a. 284.9
b. 284.89
c. 285.9
d. 285.22 - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
Index Anemia, aplastic, due to, antineoplastic chemotherapy. A coder should always
assign the most specific type of anemia. Anemia due to chemotherapy is often aplastic
(Schraffenberger 2012, 133-135 ).
✔✔18.
When the physician does not specify the method used to remove a lesion during an
endoscopy, what is the appropriate procedure?
a. Assign the removal by snare technique code.
b. Assign the removal by hot biopsy forceps code.
c. Assign the ablation code.
d. Query the physician as to the method used. - ✔✔Correct Answer: D
It is not appropriate for the coder to assume the removal was done by either snare or
hot biopsy forceps. The ablation code is only assigned when a lesion is completely
destroyed and no specimen is retrieved. The coding professional must query the
physician to assign the appropriate code (AHIMA 2012a, 607).
, ✔✔19.
What is the best reference tool to determine how CPT codes should be assigned?
a. Local coverage determination from Medicare
b. American Medical Association's CPT Assistant newsletter
c. American Hospital Association's Coding Clinic
d. CMS website - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
CPT Assistant provides additional CPT coding guidance on how to assign a CPT code
by providing intent on the use of the code and explanation of parenthetical instructions.
The American Medical Association publishes the guidance monthly (AMA 2012b).
✔✔20.
Identify the appropriate ICD-9-CM diagnosis code(s) for right and left bundle branch
block.
a. 426.3, 426.4
b. 426.53
c. 426.4, 426.53
d. 426.52 - ✔✔Correct Answer: B
Index Block, left, with right bundle branch block. Right and left bundle branch block is
inclusive of one code. It is inappropriate to assign a code for right (426.4) and left
(426.3) bundle branch block when a combination code includes both the right and left
(Schraffenberger 2012, 201-207).
✔✔21.
A software interface is a:
a. Device to enter data
b. Protocol for describing data
c. Program to exchange data
d. Standard vocabulary - ✔✔Correct Answer: C
A software interface is a computer program that allows different applications to
communicate and exchange data (Johns 2011, 137).
