CERTIFIED CODING SPECIALIST (CCS) EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE 2026
The condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for the admission is
called the ______ diagnosis.
Principal diagnosis
When two diagnoses equally meet criteria for principal diagnosis, sequencing depends
on ______.
Circumstances of admission and coding guidelines
A code reported to describe why a service was performed rather than the service itself
is a ______ code.
Diagnosis code
In inpatient coding, uncertain diagnoses documented as 'probable' are ______.
Coded as if established
The ICD-10-CM guideline that instructs to code the underlying condition first is called
______.
Code first
,A condition that develops after admission and is marked with POA indicator 'N' means
______.
Not present on admission
The modifier used to indicate a distinct procedural service is ______.
Modifier -59
In outpatient coding, diagnoses documented as 'rule out' are ______.
Not coded
The reimbursement system based on inpatient hospital stays is called ______.
DRG
A secondary diagnosis that increases reimbursement but is not life-threatening is called
a ______.
CC
A condition that significantly impacts care and resource use is classified as a ______.
MCC
,Coding edits used to prevent unbundling are known as ______ edits.
NCCI
The first-listed diagnosis in outpatient coding is the ______.
Reason for the encounter
The coding guideline that requires additional codes to fully describe a condition is
______.
Use additional code
A patient admitted for pneumonia who also has chronic kidney disease would have CKD
coded as a ______ diagnosis.
Secondary
POA indicator 'Y' signifies the condition was ______.
Present on admission
The system used to reimburse outpatient hospital services is ______.
APC
CPT modifiers are primarily used in ______ settings.
Outpatient
, Abstracting data from the health record means ______.
Extracting relevant clinical information
A fracture with delayed healing requires a ______ encounter code.
Subsequent
Medical necessity edits verify that ______.
Services are appropriate for the diagnosis
The condition chiefly responsible for the encounter in the ED is coded as ______.
First-listed diagnosis
A procedure integral to another procedure is considered ______.
Bundled
Modifier -25 is used when ______.
A significant, separately identifiable E/M service is provided
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE 2026
The condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for the admission is
called the ______ diagnosis.
Principal diagnosis
When two diagnoses equally meet criteria for principal diagnosis, sequencing depends
on ______.
Circumstances of admission and coding guidelines
A code reported to describe why a service was performed rather than the service itself
is a ______ code.
Diagnosis code
In inpatient coding, uncertain diagnoses documented as 'probable' are ______.
Coded as if established
The ICD-10-CM guideline that instructs to code the underlying condition first is called
______.
Code first
,A condition that develops after admission and is marked with POA indicator 'N' means
______.
Not present on admission
The modifier used to indicate a distinct procedural service is ______.
Modifier -59
In outpatient coding, diagnoses documented as 'rule out' are ______.
Not coded
The reimbursement system based on inpatient hospital stays is called ______.
DRG
A secondary diagnosis that increases reimbursement but is not life-threatening is called
a ______.
CC
A condition that significantly impacts care and resource use is classified as a ______.
MCC
,Coding edits used to prevent unbundling are known as ______ edits.
NCCI
The first-listed diagnosis in outpatient coding is the ______.
Reason for the encounter
The coding guideline that requires additional codes to fully describe a condition is
______.
Use additional code
A patient admitted for pneumonia who also has chronic kidney disease would have CKD
coded as a ______ diagnosis.
Secondary
POA indicator 'Y' signifies the condition was ______.
Present on admission
The system used to reimburse outpatient hospital services is ______.
APC
CPT modifiers are primarily used in ______ settings.
Outpatient
, Abstracting data from the health record means ______.
Extracting relevant clinical information
A fracture with delayed healing requires a ______ encounter code.
Subsequent
Medical necessity edits verify that ______.
Services are appropriate for the diagnosis
The condition chiefly responsible for the encounter in the ED is coded as ______.
First-listed diagnosis
A procedure integral to another procedure is considered ______.
Bundled
Modifier -25 is used when ______.
A significant, separately identifiable E/M service is provided
