AAPC CPC EXAMS PRACTICE B PRACTICE EXAM Questions
with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Which one of the following is a disorder in causing paralysis of the facial nerve?
A. Exotropia
B. Tarsal tunnel syndrome
C. Brachial plexus lesions
D. Bell's palsy
Answer: d. Bell's palsy
Question 2: Complete this series: Pulmonary, Aortic, Mitral, and ________are valves of the heart.
A. Tricuspid
B. Superior Vena Cava
C. Carotid
D. Atrium
Answer: a. Tricuspid Tricuspid is the first heart valve that blood encounters as it enters into the heart.
Superior Vena Cava is a vein that returns blood to the heart from the head, neck and both upper extremities.
Carotid is a major artery located in the front of the neck. Atrium is one of the two upper receiving chambers
of the heart. An illustration of the heart is found in the Professional Edition of the CPT® codebook in the
Cardiovascular System Table of Contents or look in the CPT® Index for Valve and you will note a
complete valve listing.
Question 3: Which term is one who has an overload of sodium?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyperpotassemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemi
Answer: c. hypernatremia hint: In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index look for each of the listed terms. Cross
reference each code in the Tabular List to note a brief definition. Hypernatremia is the when one has too
much sodium in the system. Hypernatremia is indexed to code E87.0.
Question 4: The term paracentesis found in CPT® code 49082 means:
A. A procedure performed to drain fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity
B. Biopsy of an abdominal mass
C. Removal of tissue samples from the abdominal cavity by an open approach D. Removal of a cyst located in
the abdominal cavity
Answer: a. procedure performed to drain fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity
Question 5: A 7-year-old riding his bike struck a tree stump throwing him off his bike. He received
multiple lacerations. He had a 3 cm dermis laceration on his scalp with two 0.5 cm lacerations on his
face. His right arm had a 5 cm laceration and right leg has a 5 cm laceration. The physician stapled the
Page 1
,laceration for the scalp. Physician used steri-strips (adhesive strips) to close the wounds on the face. The
legs and arms were cleaned by heavily irrigating them with normal saline and removal of embedded
debris performed on both wounds, followed with a single-layer closure. Select the repair codes to
report.
A. 12032, 12032-59, 12011-59, 12002-59
B. 12002, 12002-59, 12011-59, 12002-59
C. 12005, 11042-59
D. 12034, 12002-59
Answer: d. 12034, 12002-59 The two face lacerations were closed with steri-strips (adhesive strips). When
adhesive strips are the only repair material used to close an open wound a repair code is not reported.
According to CPT® subsection guidelines for Repair (Closure), when wound closure uses adhesive strips as
the only repair material it should be coded using the appropriate E/M service. Code 12011 is inappropriate
to report for this scenario, eliminating multiple choices A and B. The repairs for the wounds on the arm and
leg are intermediate closures. According to CPT® subsection guidelines for Repair (Closure), single-layer
closure of heavily contaminated wounds that have required extensive cleaning or removal of particulate
matter also constitutes intermediate repair. This eliminates multiple choice C. To report multiple wounds
that are repaired in the same classification and from the anatomic sites that are grouped together into the
same code descriptor, add the length of the wounds. The subsection guidelines also indicates when more
than one classification of wounds is repaired, append modifier 59 to the least complicated repair(s).
Question 6: Procedure Diagnosis: Basal cell carcinoma, left chin. Procedure: Wide local excision of 3.0
cm with 0.3 cm margin basal cell carcinoma of the left chin with a 4 cm closure. Procedure: The
patient's left chin was examined. The site of intended excision was marked out. The site was then
prepped. The patient was then prepped and draped in the usual fashion. A 15 blade scalpel was then
used to make an incision in the previously marked site. It was carried down to the subcuticular fat. The
lesion was then sharply dissected off underlying tissue bed using a 15- blade scalpel. It was tagged for
pathologic orientation. The hyfrecator was used for hemostasis. The wound was then closed by
advancing the tissue surrounding the lesion and closing in layers with 3-0 Vicryl for the deep layer,
followed by 5-0 Prolene for the skin. The skin closure was in a running subcuticular fashion. Steri-
Strips were then applied. What are the p
Answer: a. 11644, 12052- 51, C44.319 You need to first find out if this lesion is benign or malignant. For
this scenario the patient has a basal cell carcinoma. This falls under malignant lesion, which eliminates
multiple choice codes C and D as they deal with benign lesions. Now you need to find out where the lesion
is located and the size of the removal. The malignant lesion is on the chin (face) and the size is 3.0 cm +.3
cm +.3 cm = 3.6 cm, leading you to code 11644. CPT® subsection guidelines for Excision- Malignant
Lesions state: For excision of malignant lesion(s) requiring intermediate or complex closures should be
reported separately. For this scenario the wound was closed in two layers qualifying the closure to be coded
with an intermediate repair of the chin (4 cm), 12052. The diagnosis, basal cell carcinoma of the chin, look
in the ICD-10-CM Table of Neoplasms, for Neoplasm, neoplastic/skin NOS/face NOS/basal cell carcinoma
C44.31-. In the Tabular List complete the code with the 6th character 9.
Question 7: A 47-year-old patient was previously treated with external fixation for a type IIIA open left
tibia fracture. There is now nonunion of the left proximal tibia and he is admitted for open reduction of
tibia with bone grafting. Approximately 30 grams of cancellous bone was harvested from the iliac crest.
The fracture site was exposed and the area of nonunion was osteotomized, cleaned, and repositioned.
Interfragmentary compression was applied and three screws and the harvested bone graft were packed
Page 2
, into the fracture site. What are the correct codes for this diagnosis and procedure?
A. 27724, S82.102N
B. 27758, S82.202S
C. 27722, S82.202P
D. 27759, S82.102N
Answer: a. 27724, S82.102N The selection of the code is based on the anatomic location and method of
repair. Codes are 27758 and 27759 are not reported with this scenario because the fracture is not an acute
traumatic fracture. The physician is repairing a nonunion tibia fracture (failure of two ends of a fracture to
completely heal). Eliminating multiple choices B and D. To select the correct choice you need to find out
what type of graft was used. Your hints are "bone grafting" and "iliac crest," which leads you to the code
27724. The bone graft was harvested from the iliac crest, and then the graft is placed at the fracture site of
the tibia compressing it for desired position and alignment and the screws were used to stabilize the fracture.
In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, look for Nonunion/fracture-see Fracture, by site. Look for Fracture,
traumatic/tibia/upper end referring you to code S82.10-. Compete code in the Tabular List, S82.102N.
ICD-10-CM Coding Guideline, I.C.19.c.1, indicates Care of complications of fractures, such as malunion
and nonunion, should be reported with the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care with nonunion (K,
M, N) or subsequent care with malunion (P, Q, R).
Question 8: Patient had a dual chamber pacemaker put in two days ago. He is having problems with the
battery and the cardiologist found that it is malfunctioning. He is taken to the operating suite to replace
the pacemaker battery. What CPT® and ICD-10-CM codes are reported?
A. 33226-76, T82.111A
B. 33235-52, T82.110A
C. 33228-78, T82.111A
D. 33213-58, T82.119A
Answer: c. 33228-78, T82.111A One way to choose the correct choice is by the modifiers. The patient is
still in a post-op period from an initial cardiac procedure and is having an unplanned return to the operating
room due to a malfunctioning pacemaker battery that is going to be replaced (modifier 78). In the
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index look for Malfunction/cardiac electronic device/pulse generator referring you
to code T82.111-. Go to the Tabular List to complete the code, T82.111A. The selection of the pacemaker
code is based on which system part of the system is being inserted or replaced and the number of leads for
the unit. Code 33228 is the removal of the pulse generator or battery on a dual lead system with
replacement.
Question 9: A 2-year-old male requires a central venous catheter. Using xylocaine local anesthesia a
percutaneous approach is used in the neck and venous access is achieved. A subcutaneous tunnel is
created from the anterior chest wall to the venotomy site and the catheter passed through the tunnel.
The CV catheter is then placed at the superior vena cava and sutured in position. Which procedure
code is reported?
A. 36568
B. 36555
C. 36557
D. 36560
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with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Which one of the following is a disorder in causing paralysis of the facial nerve?
A. Exotropia
B. Tarsal tunnel syndrome
C. Brachial plexus lesions
D. Bell's palsy
Answer: d. Bell's palsy
Question 2: Complete this series: Pulmonary, Aortic, Mitral, and ________are valves of the heart.
A. Tricuspid
B. Superior Vena Cava
C. Carotid
D. Atrium
Answer: a. Tricuspid Tricuspid is the first heart valve that blood encounters as it enters into the heart.
Superior Vena Cava is a vein that returns blood to the heart from the head, neck and both upper extremities.
Carotid is a major artery located in the front of the neck. Atrium is one of the two upper receiving chambers
of the heart. An illustration of the heart is found in the Professional Edition of the CPT® codebook in the
Cardiovascular System Table of Contents or look in the CPT® Index for Valve and you will note a
complete valve listing.
Question 3: Which term is one who has an overload of sodium?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyperpotassemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemi
Answer: c. hypernatremia hint: In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index look for each of the listed terms. Cross
reference each code in the Tabular List to note a brief definition. Hypernatremia is the when one has too
much sodium in the system. Hypernatremia is indexed to code E87.0.
Question 4: The term paracentesis found in CPT® code 49082 means:
A. A procedure performed to drain fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity
B. Biopsy of an abdominal mass
C. Removal of tissue samples from the abdominal cavity by an open approach D. Removal of a cyst located in
the abdominal cavity
Answer: a. procedure performed to drain fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity
Question 5: A 7-year-old riding his bike struck a tree stump throwing him off his bike. He received
multiple lacerations. He had a 3 cm dermis laceration on his scalp with two 0.5 cm lacerations on his
face. His right arm had a 5 cm laceration and right leg has a 5 cm laceration. The physician stapled the
Page 1
,laceration for the scalp. Physician used steri-strips (adhesive strips) to close the wounds on the face. The
legs and arms were cleaned by heavily irrigating them with normal saline and removal of embedded
debris performed on both wounds, followed with a single-layer closure. Select the repair codes to
report.
A. 12032, 12032-59, 12011-59, 12002-59
B. 12002, 12002-59, 12011-59, 12002-59
C. 12005, 11042-59
D. 12034, 12002-59
Answer: d. 12034, 12002-59 The two face lacerations were closed with steri-strips (adhesive strips). When
adhesive strips are the only repair material used to close an open wound a repair code is not reported.
According to CPT® subsection guidelines for Repair (Closure), when wound closure uses adhesive strips as
the only repair material it should be coded using the appropriate E/M service. Code 12011 is inappropriate
to report for this scenario, eliminating multiple choices A and B. The repairs for the wounds on the arm and
leg are intermediate closures. According to CPT® subsection guidelines for Repair (Closure), single-layer
closure of heavily contaminated wounds that have required extensive cleaning or removal of particulate
matter also constitutes intermediate repair. This eliminates multiple choice C. To report multiple wounds
that are repaired in the same classification and from the anatomic sites that are grouped together into the
same code descriptor, add the length of the wounds. The subsection guidelines also indicates when more
than one classification of wounds is repaired, append modifier 59 to the least complicated repair(s).
Question 6: Procedure Diagnosis: Basal cell carcinoma, left chin. Procedure: Wide local excision of 3.0
cm with 0.3 cm margin basal cell carcinoma of the left chin with a 4 cm closure. Procedure: The
patient's left chin was examined. The site of intended excision was marked out. The site was then
prepped. The patient was then prepped and draped in the usual fashion. A 15 blade scalpel was then
used to make an incision in the previously marked site. It was carried down to the subcuticular fat. The
lesion was then sharply dissected off underlying tissue bed using a 15- blade scalpel. It was tagged for
pathologic orientation. The hyfrecator was used for hemostasis. The wound was then closed by
advancing the tissue surrounding the lesion and closing in layers with 3-0 Vicryl for the deep layer,
followed by 5-0 Prolene for the skin. The skin closure was in a running subcuticular fashion. Steri-
Strips were then applied. What are the p
Answer: a. 11644, 12052- 51, C44.319 You need to first find out if this lesion is benign or malignant. For
this scenario the patient has a basal cell carcinoma. This falls under malignant lesion, which eliminates
multiple choice codes C and D as they deal with benign lesions. Now you need to find out where the lesion
is located and the size of the removal. The malignant lesion is on the chin (face) and the size is 3.0 cm +.3
cm +.3 cm = 3.6 cm, leading you to code 11644. CPT® subsection guidelines for Excision- Malignant
Lesions state: For excision of malignant lesion(s) requiring intermediate or complex closures should be
reported separately. For this scenario the wound was closed in two layers qualifying the closure to be coded
with an intermediate repair of the chin (4 cm), 12052. The diagnosis, basal cell carcinoma of the chin, look
in the ICD-10-CM Table of Neoplasms, for Neoplasm, neoplastic/skin NOS/face NOS/basal cell carcinoma
C44.31-. In the Tabular List complete the code with the 6th character 9.
Question 7: A 47-year-old patient was previously treated with external fixation for a type IIIA open left
tibia fracture. There is now nonunion of the left proximal tibia and he is admitted for open reduction of
tibia with bone grafting. Approximately 30 grams of cancellous bone was harvested from the iliac crest.
The fracture site was exposed and the area of nonunion was osteotomized, cleaned, and repositioned.
Interfragmentary compression was applied and three screws and the harvested bone graft were packed
Page 2
, into the fracture site. What are the correct codes for this diagnosis and procedure?
A. 27724, S82.102N
B. 27758, S82.202S
C. 27722, S82.202P
D. 27759, S82.102N
Answer: a. 27724, S82.102N The selection of the code is based on the anatomic location and method of
repair. Codes are 27758 and 27759 are not reported with this scenario because the fracture is not an acute
traumatic fracture. The physician is repairing a nonunion tibia fracture (failure of two ends of a fracture to
completely heal). Eliminating multiple choices B and D. To select the correct choice you need to find out
what type of graft was used. Your hints are "bone grafting" and "iliac crest," which leads you to the code
27724. The bone graft was harvested from the iliac crest, and then the graft is placed at the fracture site of
the tibia compressing it for desired position and alignment and the screws were used to stabilize the fracture.
In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, look for Nonunion/fracture-see Fracture, by site. Look for Fracture,
traumatic/tibia/upper end referring you to code S82.10-. Compete code in the Tabular List, S82.102N.
ICD-10-CM Coding Guideline, I.C.19.c.1, indicates Care of complications of fractures, such as malunion
and nonunion, should be reported with the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care with nonunion (K,
M, N) or subsequent care with malunion (P, Q, R).
Question 8: Patient had a dual chamber pacemaker put in two days ago. He is having problems with the
battery and the cardiologist found that it is malfunctioning. He is taken to the operating suite to replace
the pacemaker battery. What CPT® and ICD-10-CM codes are reported?
A. 33226-76, T82.111A
B. 33235-52, T82.110A
C. 33228-78, T82.111A
D. 33213-58, T82.119A
Answer: c. 33228-78, T82.111A One way to choose the correct choice is by the modifiers. The patient is
still in a post-op period from an initial cardiac procedure and is having an unplanned return to the operating
room due to a malfunctioning pacemaker battery that is going to be replaced (modifier 78). In the
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index look for Malfunction/cardiac electronic device/pulse generator referring you
to code T82.111-. Go to the Tabular List to complete the code, T82.111A. The selection of the pacemaker
code is based on which system part of the system is being inserted or replaced and the number of leads for
the unit. Code 33228 is the removal of the pulse generator or battery on a dual lead system with
replacement.
Question 9: A 2-year-old male requires a central venous catheter. Using xylocaine local anesthesia a
percutaneous approach is used in the neck and venous access is achieved. A subcutaneous tunnel is
created from the anterior chest wall to the venotomy site and the catheter passed through the tunnel.
The CV catheter is then placed at the superior vena cava and sutured in position. Which procedure
code is reported?
A. 36568
B. 36555
C. 36557
D. 36560
Page 3
