AAPC EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Mr. Y presents to outpatient surgery for placement of a dual chamber pacemaker after
multiple attempts to manage his bradycardia medically. Atrial & ventricular leads were
placed under fluoroscopic guidance via the subclavian vein. Testing confirmed
appropriate placement & conduction. The left chest was then infiltrated with epinephrine
& a pocket was opened for placement of the generator. The leads were attached to the
generator & the generator was programmed. Appropriate pacing was confirmed. The
skin pocket was closed in layers & dressing placed. Select the appropriate CPT codes.
A. 33208
B. 33213, 33217
C. 33235, 33208
D. 33214 - Answer- A. 33208
When coding for a patient who has had a primary malignancy of the thyroid cartilage
that was completely excised a year ago, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. When the cancer is surgically removed with no further treatment provided & there is
no evidence of any existing primary malignancy, code Z85.80.
B. When further treatment is provided & there is evidence of an existing metastasis,
code first Z85.80 & then C32.9.
C. Any mention of extension, invasion, or metastasis to another site is coded as a
D49.1, Z85.80.
D. When the cancer is surgically removed but the patient is receiving chemotherapy
treatment report Z85.80 - Answer- A. When the cancer is surgically removed with no
further treatment provided & there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy,
code Z85.80.
A 67-yr-old female has CAD, atrial fibrillation, claudication & several chronic conditions
that have been marginally controlled with medication. The doctor decided that the
benefits outweigh the risks for her having a single vessel cardiopulmonary bypass using
an arterial graft. Her medication Heparin has been stopped for several days. She was
admitted in the hospital a day before the surgery. In the operating room, general
anesthesia was administered. After the chest is opened the patient begins to
hemorrhage & drops in blood pressure. The decision is made to stop the procedure &
close the chest. How should this service be coded?
A. Service is not coded due to not completing the procedure
, B. 33533-52
C. 33533-74
D. 33533-53 - Answer- D. 33533-53
In order to use the critical care codes, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Critical care services can be provided in an internist's office.
B. Critical care services provided for more than 15 minutes but less than 30 minutes
should be billed with 99291 & modifier 52.
C. Time spent reviewing laboratory test results or discussing the critically ill patient's
care with other medical staff in the unit or at the nursing station on the floor cannot be
included in the determination of critical care time.
D. Physician can provide services to another patient during the same time providing
critical care services to a critically ill patient. - Answer- A. Critical care services can be
provided in an internist's office
Which of the following statements regarding advanced beneficiary notices (ABN) is
TRUE:
A. ABN must specify only the CPT code that Medicare is expected to deny.
B. Generic ABN which states that a Medicare denial of payment is possible, or the
internist is unaware whether Medicare will deny payment or not is acceptable.
C. An ABN must be completed before delivery of items or services are provided.
D. An ABN must be obtained from a patient even in a medical emergency when the
services to be provided are not covered. - Answer- C. An ABN must be completed
before delivery of items or services are provided.B. Minor surgery performed in a
physician's office
Which of the following services are covered by Medicare Part B?
A. Inpatient chemotherapy
B. Minor surgery performed in a physician's office
C. Routine dental care
D. Assisted living facility - Answer- B. Minor surgery performed in a physician's office
INDICATIONS: 15-yr-old boy was burned in a fire & assessed to have received burns to
75% of his total body surface area. He was transferred to a burn center for definitive
treatment. Once stable, he was brought to the OR. PROCEDURE: Due to extent of the
patients burns & lack of sufficient donor sites, his full-thickness burns will be excised &
covered with xenograft (skin substitute graft), & a split-thickness skin biopsy will be
harvested for preparation of autologous grafts to be applied in the coming weeks, when
available. After induction of anesthesia, extensive debridement of the full-thickness
burns was undertaken. Attention was first directed to the patients face, neck, & scalp. A
total of 500 sq cm in this area received full-thickness burns. The eschar involving this
area was excised down to viable tissue. Hemostasis was achieved using electrocautery.
Attention was then turned to the trunk. A total of 950 sq - Answer- C. 15277, 15278 x 7,
15272, 15274 x16, 15004, 15005 x7, 15002, 15003 x 16, 15040
ANSWERS
Mr. Y presents to outpatient surgery for placement of a dual chamber pacemaker after
multiple attempts to manage his bradycardia medically. Atrial & ventricular leads were
placed under fluoroscopic guidance via the subclavian vein. Testing confirmed
appropriate placement & conduction. The left chest was then infiltrated with epinephrine
& a pocket was opened for placement of the generator. The leads were attached to the
generator & the generator was programmed. Appropriate pacing was confirmed. The
skin pocket was closed in layers & dressing placed. Select the appropriate CPT codes.
A. 33208
B. 33213, 33217
C. 33235, 33208
D. 33214 - Answer- A. 33208
When coding for a patient who has had a primary malignancy of the thyroid cartilage
that was completely excised a year ago, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. When the cancer is surgically removed with no further treatment provided & there is
no evidence of any existing primary malignancy, code Z85.80.
B. When further treatment is provided & there is evidence of an existing metastasis,
code first Z85.80 & then C32.9.
C. Any mention of extension, invasion, or metastasis to another site is coded as a
D49.1, Z85.80.
D. When the cancer is surgically removed but the patient is receiving chemotherapy
treatment report Z85.80 - Answer- A. When the cancer is surgically removed with no
further treatment provided & there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy,
code Z85.80.
A 67-yr-old female has CAD, atrial fibrillation, claudication & several chronic conditions
that have been marginally controlled with medication. The doctor decided that the
benefits outweigh the risks for her having a single vessel cardiopulmonary bypass using
an arterial graft. Her medication Heparin has been stopped for several days. She was
admitted in the hospital a day before the surgery. In the operating room, general
anesthesia was administered. After the chest is opened the patient begins to
hemorrhage & drops in blood pressure. The decision is made to stop the procedure &
close the chest. How should this service be coded?
A. Service is not coded due to not completing the procedure
, B. 33533-52
C. 33533-74
D. 33533-53 - Answer- D. 33533-53
In order to use the critical care codes, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Critical care services can be provided in an internist's office.
B. Critical care services provided for more than 15 minutes but less than 30 minutes
should be billed with 99291 & modifier 52.
C. Time spent reviewing laboratory test results or discussing the critically ill patient's
care with other medical staff in the unit or at the nursing station on the floor cannot be
included in the determination of critical care time.
D. Physician can provide services to another patient during the same time providing
critical care services to a critically ill patient. - Answer- A. Critical care services can be
provided in an internist's office
Which of the following statements regarding advanced beneficiary notices (ABN) is
TRUE:
A. ABN must specify only the CPT code that Medicare is expected to deny.
B. Generic ABN which states that a Medicare denial of payment is possible, or the
internist is unaware whether Medicare will deny payment or not is acceptable.
C. An ABN must be completed before delivery of items or services are provided.
D. An ABN must be obtained from a patient even in a medical emergency when the
services to be provided are not covered. - Answer- C. An ABN must be completed
before delivery of items or services are provided.B. Minor surgery performed in a
physician's office
Which of the following services are covered by Medicare Part B?
A. Inpatient chemotherapy
B. Minor surgery performed in a physician's office
C. Routine dental care
D. Assisted living facility - Answer- B. Minor surgery performed in a physician's office
INDICATIONS: 15-yr-old boy was burned in a fire & assessed to have received burns to
75% of his total body surface area. He was transferred to a burn center for definitive
treatment. Once stable, he was brought to the OR. PROCEDURE: Due to extent of the
patients burns & lack of sufficient donor sites, his full-thickness burns will be excised &
covered with xenograft (skin substitute graft), & a split-thickness skin biopsy will be
harvested for preparation of autologous grafts to be applied in the coming weeks, when
available. After induction of anesthesia, extensive debridement of the full-thickness
burns was undertaken. Attention was first directed to the patients face, neck, & scalp. A
total of 500 sq cm in this area received full-thickness burns. The eschar involving this
area was excised down to viable tissue. Hemostasis was achieved using electrocautery.
Attention was then turned to the trunk. A total of 950 sq - Answer- C. 15277, 15278 x 7,
15272, 15274 x16, 15004, 15005 x7, 15002, 15003 x 16, 15040
