Alabama Medical Coding Specialist
Examination — Practice Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2027
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient is seen in an outpatient clinic for evaluation of persistent
abdominal pain. The physician documents that the definitive diagnosis
has not yet been established and orders additional diagnostic testing.
Which coding principle should the medical coding specialist apply to
the diagnosis for this encounter?
A. Code the suspected condition because it is the physician's leading
consideration
B. Code the condition that is ruled out after testing
C. Code the signs and symptoms documented as the reason for the
encounter
D. Code the most serious condition reasonably associated with the
symptoms
,The outpatient coding guidelines generally prohibit coding uncertain or
suspected diagnoses as established conditions. When no definitive
diagnosis has been established, documented signs and symptoms may be
coded to represent the reason for the encounter.
2. Which coding classification system is primarily used to report
diagnoses and health conditions in the United States?
A. CPT
B. HCPCS Level II
C. ICD-10-PCS
D. ICD-10-CM
ICD-10-CM is the U.S. clinical modification of ICD-10 and is used to classify
diagnoses, diseases, conditions, injuries, and other reasons for healthcare
encounters.
3. Which coding system is specifically designed for reporting procedures
performed on hospital inpatients?
A. ICD-10-CM
B. CPT
C. HCPCS Level II
D. ICD-10-PCS
,ICD-10-PCS is used primarily for reporting procedures performed on
patients admitted to inpatient hospital settings. CPT is primarily used for
physician and outpatient services and procedures.
4. A physician documents that a patient has type 2 diabetes mellitus with
diabetic chronic kidney disease. Which coding approach is generally
appropriate?
A. Assign only the diabetes code
B. Assign only the kidney disease code
C. Assign the diabetes combination code and an additional code identifying
the stage of chronic kidney disease when required
D. Assign a code for unspecified diabetes only
ICD-10-CM contains combination codes for many diabetic conditions. When
diabetes is documented with chronic kidney disease, the applicable
diabetes code is assigned along with an additional code identifying the
CKD stage.
5. What is the primary purpose of the Alphabetic Index in the ICD-10-CM
code set?
A. To provide reimbursement amounts
B. To list CPT procedure descriptions
C. To locate potential diagnosis codes that must then be verified in the
, Tabular List
D. To determine the patient's insurance eligibility
The Alphabetic Index is the starting point for locating an ICD-10-CM code.
The coder must then verify the code, instructions, inclusion terms,
exclusions, and other requirements in the Tabular List.
6. A coder locates a diagnosis in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index and
finds several possible codes. What should the coder do next?
A. Select the first code listed without further review
B. Select the code with the highest reimbursement
C. Search the CPT codebook
D. Verify the selected code in the Tabular List
The Tabular List provides the complete code structure and essential coding
instructions. Verification in the Tabular List is necessary before assigning
the final code.
7. Which punctuation mark in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index generally
indicates that additional characters are required before a code is
complete?
A. Period
B. Hyphen
Examination — Practice Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2027
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient is seen in an outpatient clinic for evaluation of persistent
abdominal pain. The physician documents that the definitive diagnosis
has not yet been established and orders additional diagnostic testing.
Which coding principle should the medical coding specialist apply to
the diagnosis for this encounter?
A. Code the suspected condition because it is the physician's leading
consideration
B. Code the condition that is ruled out after testing
C. Code the signs and symptoms documented as the reason for the
encounter
D. Code the most serious condition reasonably associated with the
symptoms
,The outpatient coding guidelines generally prohibit coding uncertain or
suspected diagnoses as established conditions. When no definitive
diagnosis has been established, documented signs and symptoms may be
coded to represent the reason for the encounter.
2. Which coding classification system is primarily used to report
diagnoses and health conditions in the United States?
A. CPT
B. HCPCS Level II
C. ICD-10-PCS
D. ICD-10-CM
ICD-10-CM is the U.S. clinical modification of ICD-10 and is used to classify
diagnoses, diseases, conditions, injuries, and other reasons for healthcare
encounters.
3. Which coding system is specifically designed for reporting procedures
performed on hospital inpatients?
A. ICD-10-CM
B. CPT
C. HCPCS Level II
D. ICD-10-PCS
,ICD-10-PCS is used primarily for reporting procedures performed on
patients admitted to inpatient hospital settings. CPT is primarily used for
physician and outpatient services and procedures.
4. A physician documents that a patient has type 2 diabetes mellitus with
diabetic chronic kidney disease. Which coding approach is generally
appropriate?
A. Assign only the diabetes code
B. Assign only the kidney disease code
C. Assign the diabetes combination code and an additional code identifying
the stage of chronic kidney disease when required
D. Assign a code for unspecified diabetes only
ICD-10-CM contains combination codes for many diabetic conditions. When
diabetes is documented with chronic kidney disease, the applicable
diabetes code is assigned along with an additional code identifying the
CKD stage.
5. What is the primary purpose of the Alphabetic Index in the ICD-10-CM
code set?
A. To provide reimbursement amounts
B. To list CPT procedure descriptions
C. To locate potential diagnosis codes that must then be verified in the
, Tabular List
D. To determine the patient's insurance eligibility
The Alphabetic Index is the starting point for locating an ICD-10-CM code.
The coder must then verify the code, instructions, inclusion terms,
exclusions, and other requirements in the Tabular List.
6. A coder locates a diagnosis in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index and
finds several possible codes. What should the coder do next?
A. Select the first code listed without further review
B. Select the code with the highest reimbursement
C. Search the CPT codebook
D. Verify the selected code in the Tabular List
The Tabular List provides the complete code structure and essential coding
instructions. Verification in the Tabular List is necessary before assigning
the final code.
7. Which punctuation mark in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index generally
indicates that additional characters are required before a code is
complete?
A. Period
B. Hyphen
