CPC Anesthesia EXAM| 70 QUESTIONS| ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Add-on codes Correct Answer: Procedures that commonly are carried out in addition to the
primary procedure performed. These codes may not be reported alone and are identified with a +
sign.
Anesthesiologist assistant Correct Answer: A health professional who has completed
successfully an accredited anesthesia assistant training program.
Anesthesiologist Correct Answer: A physician licensed to practice medicine and has completed
an accredited anesthesiology program
Anesthesia time Correct Answer: Begins when the anesthesiologist (or anesthesia provider)
begins to prepare the patient for the induction of anesthesia and ends when the anesthesiologist
(or anesthesia provider) is no longer in personal attendance.
arterial line Correct Answer: a catheter inserted into an artery. It is used most commonly to
measure real-time blood pressure and to obtain samples for arterial blood gas.
base unit value Correct Answer: value assigned to anesthesia codes for anesthetic management
of surgery and diagnostic tests. Base unit values will vary depending on the difficulty of the
surgery, and thus the administration of anesthesia.
cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) Correct Answer: a technique that is used during heart surgery to
take over temporarily the function of the heart and lungs.
CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) Correct Answer: A registered nurse who has
completed an accredited nurse anesthesia training program successfully.
controlled hypotension Correct Answer: a technique used in general anesthesia to reduce blood
pressure to control bleeding during surgery.
conversion factor Correct Answer: a unit multiplier to convert anesthesia units into a dollar
amount for anesthesia services. These are reviewed annually by CMS and vary geographically.
May also be negotiated with insurance companies.
central venous catheter Correct Answer: a catheter placed in a large vein such as the internal
jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein with the tip of the catheter close to the atrium, or in the right
atrium of the heart.
CVP (Central Venous Pressure) Correct Answer: a direct measurement of the blood pressure in
the right atrium and vena cava. CVP reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the
ability of the heart to pump the blood from the right heart into the pulmonary system.
, emergency Correct Answer: A delay in treatment would lead to significant increase in the threat
to life or body part.
flat fee Correct Answer: is based on the physician fee schedule. Payments are made under the
Relative Value Unit, rather than by Conversion Factor. Time is not a consideration for payment.
Examples are arterial lines, CV lines, emergency intubation and Swan Ganz catheter insertion.
General Anesthesia Correct Answer: Drug induced loss of consciousness during which patients
cannot be aroused.
hypothermic circulatory arrest Correct Answer: implies a temperature of 20 degrees centigrade
or less.
medical direction Correct Answer: occurs when an anesthesiologist is involved in 2, 3, or 4
concurrent anesthesia procedures, or a single anesthesia procedure with a qualified anesthetist.
CMS and other carriers publish criteria that must be met to report medical direction.
medical supervision Correct Answer: occurs when an anesthesiologist is involved in 5 or more
concurrent anesthesia procedures, or fails to meet required medical direction criteria.
PAC - Pulmonary Artery Catheter (eg. Swan Ganz) Correct Answer: a flow directed catheter
inserted into the pulmonary artery. Used to measure pressures and flows within the
cardiovascular system.
physical status modifier Correct Answer: a modifier used to report the physical status assigned
to each patient undergoing anesthesia. Patients are ranked by their individual health status.
Pump Oxygenator Correct Answer: Term used when a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine
is used to function as the heart and lungs during heart surgery.
qualifying circumstances Correct Answer: circumstances that significantly affect the character
of an anesthesia service. These add-on procedures may be reported only with anesthesia codes.
More than one may be reported, if applicable. May not be reported separately when a code
descriptor already indicates the circumstance.
regional anesthesia Correct Answer: loss of sensation in a region of the body, produced by
application of an anesthetic agent.
relative value unit Correct Answer: a unit measure used to assign value to services. Determined
by assigning weight to factors such as physician work, practice expense and malpractice
expense.
resident Correct Answer: a physician who has completed his medical degree and entered a
residency program specifically for anesthesiology training.
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Add-on codes Correct Answer: Procedures that commonly are carried out in addition to the
primary procedure performed. These codes may not be reported alone and are identified with a +
sign.
Anesthesiologist assistant Correct Answer: A health professional who has completed
successfully an accredited anesthesia assistant training program.
Anesthesiologist Correct Answer: A physician licensed to practice medicine and has completed
an accredited anesthesiology program
Anesthesia time Correct Answer: Begins when the anesthesiologist (or anesthesia provider)
begins to prepare the patient for the induction of anesthesia and ends when the anesthesiologist
(or anesthesia provider) is no longer in personal attendance.
arterial line Correct Answer: a catheter inserted into an artery. It is used most commonly to
measure real-time blood pressure and to obtain samples for arterial blood gas.
base unit value Correct Answer: value assigned to anesthesia codes for anesthetic management
of surgery and diagnostic tests. Base unit values will vary depending on the difficulty of the
surgery, and thus the administration of anesthesia.
cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) Correct Answer: a technique that is used during heart surgery to
take over temporarily the function of the heart and lungs.
CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) Correct Answer: A registered nurse who has
completed an accredited nurse anesthesia training program successfully.
controlled hypotension Correct Answer: a technique used in general anesthesia to reduce blood
pressure to control bleeding during surgery.
conversion factor Correct Answer: a unit multiplier to convert anesthesia units into a dollar
amount for anesthesia services. These are reviewed annually by CMS and vary geographically.
May also be negotiated with insurance companies.
central venous catheter Correct Answer: a catheter placed in a large vein such as the internal
jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein with the tip of the catheter close to the atrium, or in the right
atrium of the heart.
CVP (Central Venous Pressure) Correct Answer: a direct measurement of the blood pressure in
the right atrium and vena cava. CVP reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the
ability of the heart to pump the blood from the right heart into the pulmonary system.
, emergency Correct Answer: A delay in treatment would lead to significant increase in the threat
to life or body part.
flat fee Correct Answer: is based on the physician fee schedule. Payments are made under the
Relative Value Unit, rather than by Conversion Factor. Time is not a consideration for payment.
Examples are arterial lines, CV lines, emergency intubation and Swan Ganz catheter insertion.
General Anesthesia Correct Answer: Drug induced loss of consciousness during which patients
cannot be aroused.
hypothermic circulatory arrest Correct Answer: implies a temperature of 20 degrees centigrade
or less.
medical direction Correct Answer: occurs when an anesthesiologist is involved in 2, 3, or 4
concurrent anesthesia procedures, or a single anesthesia procedure with a qualified anesthetist.
CMS and other carriers publish criteria that must be met to report medical direction.
medical supervision Correct Answer: occurs when an anesthesiologist is involved in 5 or more
concurrent anesthesia procedures, or fails to meet required medical direction criteria.
PAC - Pulmonary Artery Catheter (eg. Swan Ganz) Correct Answer: a flow directed catheter
inserted into the pulmonary artery. Used to measure pressures and flows within the
cardiovascular system.
physical status modifier Correct Answer: a modifier used to report the physical status assigned
to each patient undergoing anesthesia. Patients are ranked by their individual health status.
Pump Oxygenator Correct Answer: Term used when a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine
is used to function as the heart and lungs during heart surgery.
qualifying circumstances Correct Answer: circumstances that significantly affect the character
of an anesthesia service. These add-on procedures may be reported only with anesthesia codes.
More than one may be reported, if applicable. May not be reported separately when a code
descriptor already indicates the circumstance.
regional anesthesia Correct Answer: loss of sensation in a region of the body, produced by
application of an anesthetic agent.
relative value unit Correct Answer: a unit measure used to assign value to services. Determined
by assigning weight to factors such as physician work, practice expense and malpractice
expense.
resident Correct Answer: a physician who has completed his medical degree and entered a
residency program specifically for anesthesiology training.
