CCS 2026/2027 AHIMA EXAM – CERTIFIED CODING SPECIALIST STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & TEST PREP
The root operation of resection applies to which of the following?
a. Removal of the entire body part and removal of an entire lobe of the liver
b. Partial incidental appendectomy and the closure portion of a procedure
c. Blunt, digital, manual, or mechanical lysis of adhesions
d. Partial cholecystectomy - ANS ✔✔A. Removal of the entire body part and removal of an entire lobe of
the liver.
When coding benign neoplasm of the skin, the section noted above directs the coder to:
D23- Other benign neoplasms of skin Includes:
Benign neoplasm of hair follicles
Benign neoplasm of sebaceous glands
Benign neoplasm of sweat glands
Excludes 1: benign lipomatous neoplasms of skin (D17.0-D17.3)
melanocytic nevi (D22.-)
a. Use category D23 for benign neoplasm of sweat glands
b. Use category D23 for melanocytic nevi
c. Use category D23 for benign lipomatous neoplasms of skin
d. Use category D23 for malignant neoplasm of the skin - ANS ✔✔A. Use category D23 for benign
neoplasm of sweat glands
A 64-year-old female was discharged with the final diagnosis of acute renal failure and hypertension.
What coding rule applies?
a. Use combination code of hypertension and renal failure.
b. Use separate codes for hypertension and chronic renal failure.
c. Use separate codes for hypertension and acute renal failure.
d. Use separate codes for elevated blood pressure and chronic renal failure. - ANS ✔✔C Use separate
codes for hypertension and acute renal failure
Coding professionals need to have surgical references in order to discriminate between:
a. Correct and incorrect documentation based on Joint Commission requirements
b. Reportable and nonreportable procedures
c. Chemotherapeutic drugs
d. A comorbid condition and a complication that prolongs the length of stay - ANS ✔✔B. Reportable and
non reportable procedures
A patient is admitted with an acute inferior myocardial infarction and discharged alive. Which condition
would increase the MS-DRG weight?
,a. Respiratory failure
b. Atrial fibrillation
c. Hypertension
d. History of myocardial infarction - ANS ✔✔A. Respiratory failure
If a patient has undergone an outpatient echocardiogram and the cardiologist concludes in the report
that the patient has mitral regurgitation, the coder should:
a. Assign a diagnostic code for mitral regurgitation
b. Query the physician about the diagnosis
c. Code an abnormal finding of the echocardiogram
d. No code can be assigned - ANS ✔✔A. Assign a diagnostic code for mitral regurgitation
A patient was treated in the emergency department with lacerations of the neck and underwent a repair
of two (2) wounds of the neck (2.0 cm and 1.4 cm) with layered closure. What are the diagnosis
(excluding external cause codes) and procedure codes assigned?
S11.91XA Laceration without foreign body of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter
S11.92XA Laceration with foreign body of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter
0HQ4XZZ Repair neck skin, external approach
12041 Repair, intermediate, wounds of neck, hands, feet and/or external genitalia; 2.5 cm or less
12042 Repair, intermediate, wounds of neck, hands, feet, and/or external genitalia; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm
a. S11.91XA, 0HQ4XZZ
b. S11.92XA, 0HQ4XZZ
c. S11.92XA, 12041, 12041
d. S11.91XA, 12042 - ANS ✔✔D. S11.91XA, 12042
A patient is admitted to an acute care facility for detoxification from alcohol and barbiturate intoxication
with chronic alcoholism and barbiturate abuse. The patient also has cirrhosis of the liver due to
alcoholism. What codes should be assigned?
a. F10.229, F13.129, K70.30, HZ2ZZZZ
b. F10.129, F13.229, K70.30, HZ2ZZZZ
c. F10.29, F13.129, K70.10, HZ2ZZXZ
d. F10.229, F13.129, K70.9, HZ2ZZZZ - ANS ✔✔A. F10.229, F13.129, K70.30, HZ2ZZZZ
Patient with renal tumors received percutaneous cryotherapy ablation of three tumors on the right
kidney in the same operative episode at Memorial Hospital. Assign a CPT code for this procedure.
50250 Ablation, open, 1 or more renal mass lesion(s), cryosurgical, including intraoperative ultrasound
guidance and monitoring, if performed
50590 Lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave
50592 Ablation, 1 or more renal tumor(s), percutaneous, unilateral, radiofrequency
50593 Ablation, renal tumor(s), unilateral, percutaneous, cryotherapy
a. 50250
b. 50590
,c. 50592
d. 50593 - ANS ✔✔D. 50593
When coding a documented ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), what codes should be assigned first
for ICD-10-CM and then supported by CPT?
a. The pneumonia is coded first; the CPT will be from code range 94010 to 94799
b. The complication of surgery diagnosis is coded first, then the VAP, with the CPT will be from code
range 99500 to 99602
c. The specific code for ventilator-associated pneumonia is coded first and the organism is coded as a
secondary code if known; the CPT will be from code range 94002 to 94005
d. An additional code for the type of pneumonia, that is, lobar or pneumonia NOS, is coded; the CPT will
be from code range 33946 to 33989 - ANS ✔✔c. The specific code for ventilator-associated pneumonia is
coded first and the organism is coded as a secondary code if known; the CPT will be from code range
94002 to 94005
A nurse inadvertently recorded an incorrect vital sign in a patient electronic health record. The next day,
a correction was made in the electronic health record. This resulted in the corrected vital sign being
recorded at the time the correction was made due to the software. What would be the result of this
correction?
a. The vital signs would be listed in the correct sequence.
b. When a correction is made in an electronic health record, the incorrect data is deleted.
c. The quality of patient care would not be affected.
d. There was a distorted trend line of vital signs data. - ANS ✔✔d. There was a distorted trend line of
vital signs data.
Poor-quality data collection and reporting can affect:
a. Patient care, documentation, revenue generation, outcomes evaluation, and public health reporting
b. Use of patient record for legal purposes
c. Patient care, communication, research activities, and public health reporting
d. All of the above - ANS ✔✔d. All of the above
The billing department has requested that copies of the final coding summary with associated code
meanings for Medicare be printed remotely in the admission department. Currently they request the
summaries only when there is an unspecified procedure. Each time the coding supervisor goes to the
admission department, the coding summaries have been left on a table near the patient entrance. Of the
actions presented here, what would be the best action for the coding supervisor to take?
a. Comply with the request.
b. Refuse to undertake this without further explanation.
c. Ignore the request.
d. Explain to the billing department supervisor that leaving the coding summary in public view violates
the patient's right to privacy. - ANS ✔✔d. Explain to the billing department supervisor that leaving the
coding summary in public view violates the patient's right to privacy.
What percentage will the facility be paid for procedure code 10060?
, 989323 T 10060 0006 $500
989323 T 64605 0220 $1,000
a. 50%
b. 75%
c. 0%
d. 100% - ANS ✔✔a. 50%
To correct an entry in the medical record, the provider should:
a. Draw a single line through the error, add a note explaining the error, initial and date, add the correct
information in chronological order
b. Draw a double line through the error, initial and date, add the reason for the correction
c. Draw a single line through the error, and add the correct information in chronological order
d. Draw several lines through the error, obliterate the documentation as much as possible, initial and
date, add the correct information in chronological order - ANS ✔✔a. Draw a single line through the error,
add a note explaining the error, initial and date, add the correct information in chronological order
Most hospitals require a medical record is completed within:
a. 5 days
b. 10 days
c. 7 days
d. 30 days - ANS ✔✔d. 30 days
The patient was admitted from the emergency department because of chest pain. Following blood work,
it was determined that the patient had elevated CPKs and MB enzymes. The EKG shows nonspecific ST
changes. What type of diagnosis might this indicate?
a. Unstable angina
b. Myocardial infarction
c. Congestive heart failure
d. Mitral valve stenosis - ANS ✔✔b. Myocardial infarction
Two areas of documentation in the health record that are significant areas of focus of accrediting
agencies are:
a. Incident reports notation in the medical record and attorney's notes
b. Past medical reports and social worker's notes
c. Timeliness and legibility of medical documents
d. Patient documentation and pastoral counseling - ANS ✔✔c. Timeliness and legibility of medical
documents
A patient is discharged with a diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema due to congestive heart failure. What
condition(s) should be coded?
a. Acute pulmonary edema
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & TEST PREP
The root operation of resection applies to which of the following?
a. Removal of the entire body part and removal of an entire lobe of the liver
b. Partial incidental appendectomy and the closure portion of a procedure
c. Blunt, digital, manual, or mechanical lysis of adhesions
d. Partial cholecystectomy - ANS ✔✔A. Removal of the entire body part and removal of an entire lobe of
the liver.
When coding benign neoplasm of the skin, the section noted above directs the coder to:
D23- Other benign neoplasms of skin Includes:
Benign neoplasm of hair follicles
Benign neoplasm of sebaceous glands
Benign neoplasm of sweat glands
Excludes 1: benign lipomatous neoplasms of skin (D17.0-D17.3)
melanocytic nevi (D22.-)
a. Use category D23 for benign neoplasm of sweat glands
b. Use category D23 for melanocytic nevi
c. Use category D23 for benign lipomatous neoplasms of skin
d. Use category D23 for malignant neoplasm of the skin - ANS ✔✔A. Use category D23 for benign
neoplasm of sweat glands
A 64-year-old female was discharged with the final diagnosis of acute renal failure and hypertension.
What coding rule applies?
a. Use combination code of hypertension and renal failure.
b. Use separate codes for hypertension and chronic renal failure.
c. Use separate codes for hypertension and acute renal failure.
d. Use separate codes for elevated blood pressure and chronic renal failure. - ANS ✔✔C Use separate
codes for hypertension and acute renal failure
Coding professionals need to have surgical references in order to discriminate between:
a. Correct and incorrect documentation based on Joint Commission requirements
b. Reportable and nonreportable procedures
c. Chemotherapeutic drugs
d. A comorbid condition and a complication that prolongs the length of stay - ANS ✔✔B. Reportable and
non reportable procedures
A patient is admitted with an acute inferior myocardial infarction and discharged alive. Which condition
would increase the MS-DRG weight?
,a. Respiratory failure
b. Atrial fibrillation
c. Hypertension
d. History of myocardial infarction - ANS ✔✔A. Respiratory failure
If a patient has undergone an outpatient echocardiogram and the cardiologist concludes in the report
that the patient has mitral regurgitation, the coder should:
a. Assign a diagnostic code for mitral regurgitation
b. Query the physician about the diagnosis
c. Code an abnormal finding of the echocardiogram
d. No code can be assigned - ANS ✔✔A. Assign a diagnostic code for mitral regurgitation
A patient was treated in the emergency department with lacerations of the neck and underwent a repair
of two (2) wounds of the neck (2.0 cm and 1.4 cm) with layered closure. What are the diagnosis
(excluding external cause codes) and procedure codes assigned?
S11.91XA Laceration without foreign body of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter
S11.92XA Laceration with foreign body of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter
0HQ4XZZ Repair neck skin, external approach
12041 Repair, intermediate, wounds of neck, hands, feet and/or external genitalia; 2.5 cm or less
12042 Repair, intermediate, wounds of neck, hands, feet, and/or external genitalia; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm
a. S11.91XA, 0HQ4XZZ
b. S11.92XA, 0HQ4XZZ
c. S11.92XA, 12041, 12041
d. S11.91XA, 12042 - ANS ✔✔D. S11.91XA, 12042
A patient is admitted to an acute care facility for detoxification from alcohol and barbiturate intoxication
with chronic alcoholism and barbiturate abuse. The patient also has cirrhosis of the liver due to
alcoholism. What codes should be assigned?
a. F10.229, F13.129, K70.30, HZ2ZZZZ
b. F10.129, F13.229, K70.30, HZ2ZZZZ
c. F10.29, F13.129, K70.10, HZ2ZZXZ
d. F10.229, F13.129, K70.9, HZ2ZZZZ - ANS ✔✔A. F10.229, F13.129, K70.30, HZ2ZZZZ
Patient with renal tumors received percutaneous cryotherapy ablation of three tumors on the right
kidney in the same operative episode at Memorial Hospital. Assign a CPT code for this procedure.
50250 Ablation, open, 1 or more renal mass lesion(s), cryosurgical, including intraoperative ultrasound
guidance and monitoring, if performed
50590 Lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave
50592 Ablation, 1 or more renal tumor(s), percutaneous, unilateral, radiofrequency
50593 Ablation, renal tumor(s), unilateral, percutaneous, cryotherapy
a. 50250
b. 50590
,c. 50592
d. 50593 - ANS ✔✔D. 50593
When coding a documented ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), what codes should be assigned first
for ICD-10-CM and then supported by CPT?
a. The pneumonia is coded first; the CPT will be from code range 94010 to 94799
b. The complication of surgery diagnosis is coded first, then the VAP, with the CPT will be from code
range 99500 to 99602
c. The specific code for ventilator-associated pneumonia is coded first and the organism is coded as a
secondary code if known; the CPT will be from code range 94002 to 94005
d. An additional code for the type of pneumonia, that is, lobar or pneumonia NOS, is coded; the CPT will
be from code range 33946 to 33989 - ANS ✔✔c. The specific code for ventilator-associated pneumonia is
coded first and the organism is coded as a secondary code if known; the CPT will be from code range
94002 to 94005
A nurse inadvertently recorded an incorrect vital sign in a patient electronic health record. The next day,
a correction was made in the electronic health record. This resulted in the corrected vital sign being
recorded at the time the correction was made due to the software. What would be the result of this
correction?
a. The vital signs would be listed in the correct sequence.
b. When a correction is made in an electronic health record, the incorrect data is deleted.
c. The quality of patient care would not be affected.
d. There was a distorted trend line of vital signs data. - ANS ✔✔d. There was a distorted trend line of
vital signs data.
Poor-quality data collection and reporting can affect:
a. Patient care, documentation, revenue generation, outcomes evaluation, and public health reporting
b. Use of patient record for legal purposes
c. Patient care, communication, research activities, and public health reporting
d. All of the above - ANS ✔✔d. All of the above
The billing department has requested that copies of the final coding summary with associated code
meanings for Medicare be printed remotely in the admission department. Currently they request the
summaries only when there is an unspecified procedure. Each time the coding supervisor goes to the
admission department, the coding summaries have been left on a table near the patient entrance. Of the
actions presented here, what would be the best action for the coding supervisor to take?
a. Comply with the request.
b. Refuse to undertake this without further explanation.
c. Ignore the request.
d. Explain to the billing department supervisor that leaving the coding summary in public view violates
the patient's right to privacy. - ANS ✔✔d. Explain to the billing department supervisor that leaving the
coding summary in public view violates the patient's right to privacy.
What percentage will the facility be paid for procedure code 10060?
, 989323 T 10060 0006 $500
989323 T 64605 0220 $1,000
a. 50%
b. 75%
c. 0%
d. 100% - ANS ✔✔a. 50%
To correct an entry in the medical record, the provider should:
a. Draw a single line through the error, add a note explaining the error, initial and date, add the correct
information in chronological order
b. Draw a double line through the error, initial and date, add the reason for the correction
c. Draw a single line through the error, and add the correct information in chronological order
d. Draw several lines through the error, obliterate the documentation as much as possible, initial and
date, add the correct information in chronological order - ANS ✔✔a. Draw a single line through the error,
add a note explaining the error, initial and date, add the correct information in chronological order
Most hospitals require a medical record is completed within:
a. 5 days
b. 10 days
c. 7 days
d. 30 days - ANS ✔✔d. 30 days
The patient was admitted from the emergency department because of chest pain. Following blood work,
it was determined that the patient had elevated CPKs and MB enzymes. The EKG shows nonspecific ST
changes. What type of diagnosis might this indicate?
a. Unstable angina
b. Myocardial infarction
c. Congestive heart failure
d. Mitral valve stenosis - ANS ✔✔b. Myocardial infarction
Two areas of documentation in the health record that are significant areas of focus of accrediting
agencies are:
a. Incident reports notation in the medical record and attorney's notes
b. Past medical reports and social worker's notes
c. Timeliness and legibility of medical documents
d. Patient documentation and pastoral counseling - ANS ✔✔c. Timeliness and legibility of medical
documents
A patient is discharged with a diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema due to congestive heart failure. What
condition(s) should be coded?
a. Acute pulmonary edema
