AAPC CPC Exam Practice Questions &
Answers
Complete Solution Guide (2025 Edition)
,Section 1: ICD-10-CM Coding (Questions 1-20)
1. Question: A patient is seen for acute bronchitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. How is this
coded?
• A) J20.0
• B) J15.7
• C) A49.3, J20.8
• D) J20.8
Answer: D) J20.8
Rationale: J20.8 (Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms) includes
Mycoplasma pneumoniae. No separate code for the organism is needed.
2. Question: A patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, with diabetic chronic kidney disease (stage
3), is seen for uncontrolled blood sugar. What is the correct code sequencing?
• A) E11.22, N18.3
• B) N18.3, E11.9
• C) E11.65
• D) E11.22
Answer: A) E11.22, N18.3
Rationale: Code first the diabetes with chronic kidney disease (E11.22), followed by the
stage of CKD (N18.3).
3. Question: A patient is diagnosed with a lateral displaced fracture of the surgical neck of the
right humerus, initial encounter for closed fracture. What is the correct code?
• A) S42.231A
• B) S42.231B
• C) S42.234A
• D) S42.235A
Answer: C) S42.234A
*Rationale: S42.234- represents a displaced fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus.
The 7th character 'A' is for initial encounter. Laterality (right) is the 5th character '4'.*
, 4. Question: A patient is seen for abdominal pain. After workup, the final diagnosis is acute
appendicitis with generalized peritonitis. What is coded?
• A) K35.2
• B) K35.3
• C) K35.33
• D) K35.20
Answer: C) K35.33
Rationale: K35.33 is for acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis, with abscess.
K35.32 is without abscess. The documentation of "generalized peritonitis" requires this
specificity.
5. Question: A patient with a history of breast cancer, treated with mastectomy 5 years ago, is
seen for routine follow-up with no symptoms. How is this coded?
• A) Z85.3
• B) C50.911
• C) Z08
• D) Z86.00
Answer: A) Z85.3
*Rationale: Z85.3 is the personal history code for malignant neoplasm of the breast. This
is used for follow-up visits after completed treatment.*
6. Question: A patient has essential (primary) hypertension and hypertensive chronic kidney
disease, stage 4. What codes are used?
• A) I12.9, N18.4
• B) I12.0, N18.4
• C) I10, N18.4
• D) I13.0
Answer: B) I12.0, N18.4
*Rationale: I12.0 is hypertensive chronic kidney disease with stage 5 or end stage renal
disease. The correct code for hypertensive CKD stage 4 is I12.9 (without heart failure) or
I13.- (with heart failure). However, the combination is I12.9 + N18.4. I12.0 is incorrect for
stage 4. Correction: The correct answer should be I12.9, N18.4. There is no single code.*
Answers
Complete Solution Guide (2025 Edition)
,Section 1: ICD-10-CM Coding (Questions 1-20)
1. Question: A patient is seen for acute bronchitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. How is this
coded?
• A) J20.0
• B) J15.7
• C) A49.3, J20.8
• D) J20.8
Answer: D) J20.8
Rationale: J20.8 (Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms) includes
Mycoplasma pneumoniae. No separate code for the organism is needed.
2. Question: A patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, with diabetic chronic kidney disease (stage
3), is seen for uncontrolled blood sugar. What is the correct code sequencing?
• A) E11.22, N18.3
• B) N18.3, E11.9
• C) E11.65
• D) E11.22
Answer: A) E11.22, N18.3
Rationale: Code first the diabetes with chronic kidney disease (E11.22), followed by the
stage of CKD (N18.3).
3. Question: A patient is diagnosed with a lateral displaced fracture of the surgical neck of the
right humerus, initial encounter for closed fracture. What is the correct code?
• A) S42.231A
• B) S42.231B
• C) S42.234A
• D) S42.235A
Answer: C) S42.234A
*Rationale: S42.234- represents a displaced fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus.
The 7th character 'A' is for initial encounter. Laterality (right) is the 5th character '4'.*
, 4. Question: A patient is seen for abdominal pain. After workup, the final diagnosis is acute
appendicitis with generalized peritonitis. What is coded?
• A) K35.2
• B) K35.3
• C) K35.33
• D) K35.20
Answer: C) K35.33
Rationale: K35.33 is for acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis, with abscess.
K35.32 is without abscess. The documentation of "generalized peritonitis" requires this
specificity.
5. Question: A patient with a history of breast cancer, treated with mastectomy 5 years ago, is
seen for routine follow-up with no symptoms. How is this coded?
• A) Z85.3
• B) C50.911
• C) Z08
• D) Z86.00
Answer: A) Z85.3
*Rationale: Z85.3 is the personal history code for malignant neoplasm of the breast. This
is used for follow-up visits after completed treatment.*
6. Question: A patient has essential (primary) hypertension and hypertensive chronic kidney
disease, stage 4. What codes are used?
• A) I12.9, N18.4
• B) I12.0, N18.4
• C) I10, N18.4
• D) I13.0
Answer: B) I12.0, N18.4
*Rationale: I12.0 is hypertensive chronic kidney disease with stage 5 or end stage renal
disease. The correct code for hypertensive CKD stage 4 is I12.9 (without heart failure) or
I13.- (with heart failure). However, the combination is I12.9 + N18.4. I12.0 is incorrect for
stage 4. Correction: The correct answer should be I12.9, N18.4. There is no single code.*
