CPC MEDICAL CODING EXAM 2026/2027 – EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient is described as having inflammation of the liver. Which medical term
accurately identifies this condition?
A. Nephritis
B. Hepatitis
C. Gastritis
D. Cystitis
Rationale: Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Nephritis involves the kidney, gastritis
involves the stomach, and cystitis involves the urinary bladder.
2. Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Sagittal
B. Transverse
C. Frontal
D. Oblique
Rationale: The frontal, or coronal, plane separates the body into anterior and posterior portions.
The sagittal plane divides right and left portions, while the transverse plane divides superior and
inferior portions.
3. A coder encounters the term “tachycardia” in a medical record. What does the
term describe?
A. Slow breathing
B. Low blood pressure
C. Irregular respiration
D. Abnormally rapid heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia means an abnormally rapid heart rate. The prefix tachy- indicates rapid
or fast.
4. Which structure connects muscle to bone?
A. Tendon
B. Ligament
C. Cartilage
D. Bursa
,Rationale: A tendon attaches muscle to bone and transmits the force of muscle contraction.
Ligaments connect bones to other bones.
5. A physician documents “dyspnea” during an office visit. The term refers to:
A. Difficulty swallowing
B. Chest pain
C. Difficulty breathing
D. Loss of consciousness
Rationale: Dyspnea means difficult or uncomfortable breathing. Dysphagia refers to difficulty
swallowing, while syncope refers to loss of consciousness.
6. Which organ primarily produces insulin?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Spleen
D. Thyroid
Rationale: The pancreas produces insulin through its endocrine cells. Insulin plays a major role
in regulating blood glucose.
7. A provider documents a condition as “bilateral.” What does this indicate?
A. The condition is recurrent
B. The condition is acute
C. The condition affects one side
D. The condition affects both sides
Rationale: Bilateral means involving both sides of the body or paired structures. Unilateral
refers to one side.
8. Which term describes surgical removal of the gallbladder?
A. Colectomy
B. Appendectomy
C. Cholecystectomy
D. Gastrectomy
Rationale: Cholecystectomy is removal of the gallbladder. The other procedures involve removal
of portions or the entirety of the colon, appendix, or stomach.
9. Which statement best describes the purpose of medical coding?
, A. To determine the patient's treatment plan
B. To prescribe medications
C. To translate documented healthcare services and diagnoses into standardized codes
D. To determine whether a physician should perform surgery
Rationale: Medical coding converts documented diagnoses, procedures, services, and supplies
into standardized code sets used for reporting, reimbursement, statistics, and other healthcare
functions.
10. Which code set is primarily used to report physician procedures and services?
A. ICD-10-CM
B. CPT
C. ICD-10-PCS
D. NDC
Rationale: CPT is used to report many physician and other professional services and
procedures. ICD-10-CM primarily reports diagnoses, while ICD-10-PCS is used for inpatient
hospital procedures.
11. Which code set is used to report diagnoses in professional healthcare claims in
the United States?
A. CPT
B. HCPCS Level II
C. ICD-10-PCS
D. ICD-10-CM
Rationale: ICD-10-CM is the diagnosis classification system used for reporting diseases,
conditions, symptoms, and other reasons for healthcare encounters.
12. HCPCS Level II codes are commonly used to report:
A. Only inpatient surgical procedures
B. Supplies, certain medications, equipment, and services not represented by CPT codes
C. Only physician evaluation and management services
D. Only diagnosis codes
Rationale: HCPCS Level II contains codes commonly used for products, supplies, drugs,
equipment, ambulance services, and other services not adequately represented by CPT.
13. A coding compliance program is primarily designed to:
A. Increase the number of codes reported on every claim
B. Eliminate all claim denials
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient is described as having inflammation of the liver. Which medical term
accurately identifies this condition?
A. Nephritis
B. Hepatitis
C. Gastritis
D. Cystitis
Rationale: Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Nephritis involves the kidney, gastritis
involves the stomach, and cystitis involves the urinary bladder.
2. Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Sagittal
B. Transverse
C. Frontal
D. Oblique
Rationale: The frontal, or coronal, plane separates the body into anterior and posterior portions.
The sagittal plane divides right and left portions, while the transverse plane divides superior and
inferior portions.
3. A coder encounters the term “tachycardia” in a medical record. What does the
term describe?
A. Slow breathing
B. Low blood pressure
C. Irregular respiration
D. Abnormally rapid heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia means an abnormally rapid heart rate. The prefix tachy- indicates rapid
or fast.
4. Which structure connects muscle to bone?
A. Tendon
B. Ligament
C. Cartilage
D. Bursa
,Rationale: A tendon attaches muscle to bone and transmits the force of muscle contraction.
Ligaments connect bones to other bones.
5. A physician documents “dyspnea” during an office visit. The term refers to:
A. Difficulty swallowing
B. Chest pain
C. Difficulty breathing
D. Loss of consciousness
Rationale: Dyspnea means difficult or uncomfortable breathing. Dysphagia refers to difficulty
swallowing, while syncope refers to loss of consciousness.
6. Which organ primarily produces insulin?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Spleen
D. Thyroid
Rationale: The pancreas produces insulin through its endocrine cells. Insulin plays a major role
in regulating blood glucose.
7. A provider documents a condition as “bilateral.” What does this indicate?
A. The condition is recurrent
B. The condition is acute
C. The condition affects one side
D. The condition affects both sides
Rationale: Bilateral means involving both sides of the body or paired structures. Unilateral
refers to one side.
8. Which term describes surgical removal of the gallbladder?
A. Colectomy
B. Appendectomy
C. Cholecystectomy
D. Gastrectomy
Rationale: Cholecystectomy is removal of the gallbladder. The other procedures involve removal
of portions or the entirety of the colon, appendix, or stomach.
9. Which statement best describes the purpose of medical coding?
, A. To determine the patient's treatment plan
B. To prescribe medications
C. To translate documented healthcare services and diagnoses into standardized codes
D. To determine whether a physician should perform surgery
Rationale: Medical coding converts documented diagnoses, procedures, services, and supplies
into standardized code sets used for reporting, reimbursement, statistics, and other healthcare
functions.
10. Which code set is primarily used to report physician procedures and services?
A. ICD-10-CM
B. CPT
C. ICD-10-PCS
D. NDC
Rationale: CPT is used to report many physician and other professional services and
procedures. ICD-10-CM primarily reports diagnoses, while ICD-10-PCS is used for inpatient
hospital procedures.
11. Which code set is used to report diagnoses in professional healthcare claims in
the United States?
A. CPT
B. HCPCS Level II
C. ICD-10-PCS
D. ICD-10-CM
Rationale: ICD-10-CM is the diagnosis classification system used for reporting diseases,
conditions, symptoms, and other reasons for healthcare encounters.
12. HCPCS Level II codes are commonly used to report:
A. Only inpatient surgical procedures
B. Supplies, certain medications, equipment, and services not represented by CPT codes
C. Only physician evaluation and management services
D. Only diagnosis codes
Rationale: HCPCS Level II contains codes commonly used for products, supplies, drugs,
equipment, ambulance services, and other services not adequately represented by CPT.
13. A coding compliance program is primarily designed to:
A. Increase the number of codes reported on every claim
B. Eliminate all claim denials
