ALABAMA MEDICAL CODING SPECIALIST EXAMINATION
COMPREHENSIVE 200-QUESTION PRACTICE BANK COMPLETE WITH
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A patient is diagnosed with acute systolic heart failure and chronic
kidney disease. The physician documents that the heart failure is due
to the kidney disease. How should this be coded?
A. Code only the heart failure
B. Code the heart failure and the kidney disease separately
C. Code the kidney disease as the principal diagnosis, followed by the
heart failure
D. Code a combination code for the heart and kidney condition
Answer: C
Rationale: When a causal relationship is documented between heart
failure and chronic kidney disease, ICD-10-CM guidelines require
sequencing the underlying condition (kidney disease) first, followed by
the manifestation (heart failure).
2. A coder is assigning codes for a patient with diabetic neuropathy.
Which ICD-10-CM guideline applies?
A. Code only the diabetes
B. Code only the neuropathy
C. Code a combination code that includes both diabetes and
neuropathy
D. Code the neuropathy as the principal diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: ICD-10-CM assumes a causal relationship between diabetes
,and neuropathy, so a combination code is used to report both
conditions.
3. A patient is seen for a fracture of the left femur. The physician
documents the fracture as closed and not displaced. Which ICD-10-CM
code is used?
A. S72.002A
B. S72.001A
C. S72.011A
D. S72.021A
Answer: A
Rationale: S72.002A is the correct code for a closed, non-displaced
fracture of the left femur, initial encounter.
4. A patient is diagnosed with pneumonia due to Streptococcus
pneumoniae. How should this be coded?
A. J18.9
B. J13
C. J15.9
D. J12.9
Answer: B
Rationale: J13 is the specific ICD-10-CM code for pneumonia due to
Streptococcus pneumoniae.
5. A patient presents with a cough and fever. The physician documents
"rule out pneumonia." What should the coder assign?
A. J18.9
B. R05 and R50.9
C. J13
D. Z03.89
,Answer: B
Rationale: In outpatient settings, "rule out" diagnoses are not coded as
confirmed. Code the signs and symptoms (cough R05, fever R50.9)
instead.
6. A patient with a history of breast cancer is seen for a routine
mammogram. The mammogram is negative. How is this coded?
A. Z12.31
B. Z85.3
C. Z12.31 and Z85.3
D. Z03.89
Answer: C
Rationale: Both the screening code (Z12.31) and the history of cancer
code (Z85.3) are reported when a patient with a history of cancer
undergoes screening.
7. A patient is diagnosed with HIV and is currently asymptomatic.
Which ICD-10-CM code is assigned?
A. B20
B. Z21
C. R75
D. Z11.4
Answer: B
Rationale: Z21 is used for asymptomatic HIV infection. B20 is used when
the patient is symptomatic or has an HIV-related illness.
8. A patient is seen for an annual gynecological exam. The physician
performs a Pap smear and a breast exam. Which CPT code range is
used for the preventive services?
A. 99381-99397
, B. 99201-99215
C. 99401-99429
D. 99301-99350
Answer: A
Rationale: CPT codes 99381-99397 are used for preventive medicine
evaluation and management services.
9. A patient undergoes a diagnostic colonoscopy. The physician
performs the procedure and documents the findings. Which modifier
is used to indicate the technical component of the procedure?
A. Modifier -26
B. Modifier -TC
C. Modifier -50
D. Modifier -51
Answer: B
Rationale: Modifier -TC (Technical Component) is used to bill for the
technical portion of a diagnostic test.
10. A physician performs a fine needle aspiration of a thyroid nodule.
Which CPT code range is used for this procedure?
A. 10021-10022
B. 60100
C. 60500
D. 60200
Answer: A
Rationale: CPT codes 10021-10022 are used for fine needle aspiration
(FNA) without imaging guidance.
11. A patient is diagnosed with sepsis due to a urinary tract infection.
How should this be coded in ICD-10-CM?
COMPREHENSIVE 200-QUESTION PRACTICE BANK COMPLETE WITH
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A patient is diagnosed with acute systolic heart failure and chronic
kidney disease. The physician documents that the heart failure is due
to the kidney disease. How should this be coded?
A. Code only the heart failure
B. Code the heart failure and the kidney disease separately
C. Code the kidney disease as the principal diagnosis, followed by the
heart failure
D. Code a combination code for the heart and kidney condition
Answer: C
Rationale: When a causal relationship is documented between heart
failure and chronic kidney disease, ICD-10-CM guidelines require
sequencing the underlying condition (kidney disease) first, followed by
the manifestation (heart failure).
2. A coder is assigning codes for a patient with diabetic neuropathy.
Which ICD-10-CM guideline applies?
A. Code only the diabetes
B. Code only the neuropathy
C. Code a combination code that includes both diabetes and
neuropathy
D. Code the neuropathy as the principal diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: ICD-10-CM assumes a causal relationship between diabetes
,and neuropathy, so a combination code is used to report both
conditions.
3. A patient is seen for a fracture of the left femur. The physician
documents the fracture as closed and not displaced. Which ICD-10-CM
code is used?
A. S72.002A
B. S72.001A
C. S72.011A
D. S72.021A
Answer: A
Rationale: S72.002A is the correct code for a closed, non-displaced
fracture of the left femur, initial encounter.
4. A patient is diagnosed with pneumonia due to Streptococcus
pneumoniae. How should this be coded?
A. J18.9
B. J13
C. J15.9
D. J12.9
Answer: B
Rationale: J13 is the specific ICD-10-CM code for pneumonia due to
Streptococcus pneumoniae.
5. A patient presents with a cough and fever. The physician documents
"rule out pneumonia." What should the coder assign?
A. J18.9
B. R05 and R50.9
C. J13
D. Z03.89
,Answer: B
Rationale: In outpatient settings, "rule out" diagnoses are not coded as
confirmed. Code the signs and symptoms (cough R05, fever R50.9)
instead.
6. A patient with a history of breast cancer is seen for a routine
mammogram. The mammogram is negative. How is this coded?
A. Z12.31
B. Z85.3
C. Z12.31 and Z85.3
D. Z03.89
Answer: C
Rationale: Both the screening code (Z12.31) and the history of cancer
code (Z85.3) are reported when a patient with a history of cancer
undergoes screening.
7. A patient is diagnosed with HIV and is currently asymptomatic.
Which ICD-10-CM code is assigned?
A. B20
B. Z21
C. R75
D. Z11.4
Answer: B
Rationale: Z21 is used for asymptomatic HIV infection. B20 is used when
the patient is symptomatic or has an HIV-related illness.
8. A patient is seen for an annual gynecological exam. The physician
performs a Pap smear and a breast exam. Which CPT code range is
used for the preventive services?
A. 99381-99397
, B. 99201-99215
C. 99401-99429
D. 99301-99350
Answer: A
Rationale: CPT codes 99381-99397 are used for preventive medicine
evaluation and management services.
9. A patient undergoes a diagnostic colonoscopy. The physician
performs the procedure and documents the findings. Which modifier
is used to indicate the technical component of the procedure?
A. Modifier -26
B. Modifier -TC
C. Modifier -50
D. Modifier -51
Answer: B
Rationale: Modifier -TC (Technical Component) is used to bill for the
technical portion of a diagnostic test.
10. A physician performs a fine needle aspiration of a thyroid nodule.
Which CPT code range is used for this procedure?
A. 10021-10022
B. 60100
C. 60500
D. 60200
Answer: A
Rationale: CPT codes 10021-10022 are used for fine needle aspiration
(FNA) without imaging guidance.
11. A patient is diagnosed with sepsis due to a urinary tract infection.
How should this be coded in ICD-10-CM?
