Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) Exam Prep
Questions -AHIMA 6th Edition questions and answers
2024\2025
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
- correct answer b
The CPK elevation with MB enzymes elevated and the EKG ST changes denote a possible Ml (Leon-
Chisen 2013, 386-387).
A patient is admitted and diagnosed with fever and urinary burning. The discharge diagnosis· is
Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection.
Which of the following represents the correct diagnoses and appropriate sequence of those conditions?
a. Fever, urinary burning, urosepsis
b. Fever, urinary burning, sepsis
c. Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection
d. Urinary tract infection, Escherichia coli
- correct answer d
Symptoms are not coded when a definitive diagnosis is present on discharge. The patient discharge
diagnosis of urinary tract infection. The organism (E. coli) is coded with a seco diagnosis code (B96.20)
which is to be added as an additional code to identify the bacterial agent (HHS 2014, Section II.A., 98).
,A patient was admitted with heart failure within one week of a heart transplant. Due to the timing, the
coder thought that it may represent a postoperative transplant rejection following heart transplant.
What action(s) should the coding staff take?
a. Query the physician.
b. Assign the codes for the postoperative transplant rejection.
c. Assign only the code for the transplant rejection.
d. Assign only the code for heart failure.
- correct answer a
When the documentation is not clear regarding a potential complication, it is appropriate query the
physician (HHS 2014, Section I.B.16, 16; Leon-Chisen 2013, 43-44).
A patient is admitted to a psychiatric unit of an acute-care facility. The patient experienced the following
symptoms almost every day for the last month: loss of interest or pleasure in most or all activities, which
is a change from her prior level of functioning. She has also gained 15 lbs, has difficulty falling asleep,
feels fatigued, and has difficulty making decisions.
What potential diagnosis most closely fits the patient's overall symptoms?
a. Insomnia
b. Major depression
c. Reye's syndrome
d. Bipolar disorder
- correct answer b
The symptoms provided are indicative of a depressive disorder (Leon-Chisen 2013, 175).
Inpatient:
, Admission for inguinal hernia repair. This 30-year-old patient has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) but is not symptomatic at this time due to medication regimen. The procedure performed was a
right indirect inguinal herniorrhaphy via open approach.
- correct answer ICD-10-CM: K40.90, B20,
ICD-10-PCS: OYQ50ZZ (Schraffenberger 2013, 82-84,252)
Inpatient:
A 75-year-old male patient was admitted from a nursing home with dehydration and dysphagia due to a
previous stroke. During hospitalization the patient was rehydrated and transferred back to the nursing
home.
- correct answer ICD-10-CM: E86.0, I69.391
(Schraffenberger 2013, 131, 209-210).
Stroke= cerebral infarction
Inpatient:
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.
- correct answer ICD-10-CM: F10.229, F13.129, K70.30,
(Schraffenberger 2013, 140-143.)
ICD-10-PCS HZ2ZZZZ
(Leon-Chisen 2014, 186).
Questions -AHIMA 6th Edition questions and answers
2024\2025
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
- correct answer b
The CPK elevation with MB enzymes elevated and the EKG ST changes denote a possible Ml (Leon-
Chisen 2013, 386-387).
A patient is admitted and diagnosed with fever and urinary burning. The discharge diagnosis· is
Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection.
Which of the following represents the correct diagnoses and appropriate sequence of those conditions?
a. Fever, urinary burning, urosepsis
b. Fever, urinary burning, sepsis
c. Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection
d. Urinary tract infection, Escherichia coli
- correct answer d
Symptoms are not coded when a definitive diagnosis is present on discharge. The patient discharge
diagnosis of urinary tract infection. The organism (E. coli) is coded with a seco diagnosis code (B96.20)
which is to be added as an additional code to identify the bacterial agent (HHS 2014, Section II.A., 98).
,A patient was admitted with heart failure within one week of a heart transplant. Due to the timing, the
coder thought that it may represent a postoperative transplant rejection following heart transplant.
What action(s) should the coding staff take?
a. Query the physician.
b. Assign the codes for the postoperative transplant rejection.
c. Assign only the code for the transplant rejection.
d. Assign only the code for heart failure.
- correct answer a
When the documentation is not clear regarding a potential complication, it is appropriate query the
physician (HHS 2014, Section I.B.16, 16; Leon-Chisen 2013, 43-44).
A patient is admitted to a psychiatric unit of an acute-care facility. The patient experienced the following
symptoms almost every day for the last month: loss of interest or pleasure in most or all activities, which
is a change from her prior level of functioning. She has also gained 15 lbs, has difficulty falling asleep,
feels fatigued, and has difficulty making decisions.
What potential diagnosis most closely fits the patient's overall symptoms?
a. Insomnia
b. Major depression
c. Reye's syndrome
d. Bipolar disorder
- correct answer b
The symptoms provided are indicative of a depressive disorder (Leon-Chisen 2013, 175).
Inpatient:
, Admission for inguinal hernia repair. This 30-year-old patient has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) but is not symptomatic at this time due to medication regimen. The procedure performed was a
right indirect inguinal herniorrhaphy via open approach.
- correct answer ICD-10-CM: K40.90, B20,
ICD-10-PCS: OYQ50ZZ (Schraffenberger 2013, 82-84,252)
Inpatient:
A 75-year-old male patient was admitted from a nursing home with dehydration and dysphagia due to a
previous stroke. During hospitalization the patient was rehydrated and transferred back to the nursing
home.
- correct answer ICD-10-CM: E86.0, I69.391
(Schraffenberger 2013, 131, 209-210).
Stroke= cerebral infarction
Inpatient:
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.
- correct answer ICD-10-CM: F10.229, F13.129, K70.30,
(Schraffenberger 2013, 140-143.)
ICD-10-PCS HZ2ZZZZ
(Leon-Chisen 2014, 186).
