AAPC CPB Practice Exam study guide
with complete solution
Joe and Mary are a married couple and both carry insurance from their employers. Joe was
born on February 23, 1977 and Mary was born on April 4, 1974. Using the birthday rule, who
carries the primary insurance for their children for billing?
A. Joe, because he is the male head of the household.
B. Mary, because her date of birth is the 4th and Joe's date of birth is the 23rd.
C. Mary, because her birth year is before Joe's birth year.
D. Joe, because his birth month and day are before Mary's birth month and day. - ANSD. Joe,
because his birth month and day are before Mary's birth month and day.
Which type of managed care insurance allows patients to self-refer to out-of-network providers
and pay a higher co-insurance/copay amount?
I. HMO
II. PPO
III. EPO
IV. POS
V. Capitation
A. II
B. IV
C. II and IV
D. II, III, and V - ANSC. II and IV
A patient covered by a PPO is scheduled for knee replacement surgery. The biller contacts the
insurance carrier to verify benefits and preauthorize the procedure. The carrier verifies the
patient has a $500 deductible which must be met. After the deductible, the PPO will pay 80% of
the claim. The contracted rate for the procedure is $2,500. What is the patient's responsibility?
A. $400
B. $500
C. $900
D. $1,600 - ANSC. $900
When a nonparticipating provider files a claim for a patient to BC/BS, how is the payment
processed?
,A. The payment is sent to the patient and the patient must pay the provider.
B. The payment is sent to the provider if the provider agrees to accept assignment.
C. The payment is sent to the provider regardless if he accepts assignment.
D. The claim is not paid because the provider is not participating in the plan. - ANSA. The
payment is sent to the patient and the patient must pay the provider.
Which of the following TRICARE options is/are available to active duty service members?
A. TRICARE Select
B. TRICARE Prime
C. TRICARE For Life
D. TRICARE Young Adult - ANSB. TRICARE Prime
A Medicare card will list which of the following:
I. Effective date of coverage
II. Home address
III. Telephone Number
IV. Entitled to Part A and/or Part B
V. When coverage ends
VI. Name of Primary Care Physician
A. I - VI
B. I, IV
C. I-III, VI
D. I, II, IV, V - ANSB. I, IV
In which of the following scenarios is Medicare the secondary payer?
I. A 65 year-old patient who is collecting her deceased spouse's Medicare benefits and has a
supplemental insurance
II. A 72 year-old patient who participates in the group health insurance of his employer
III. A 66 year-old patient is injured at work and the employer does not offer health insurance as a
benefit of employment
IV. A 55 year-old patient who is on disability through Social Security and qualifies for Medicaid
and Medicare
A. I-IV
B. II and III
C. I and IV
D. None - ANSB. II and III
,When a patient has Medicare primary and AARP as Medigap, what is entered on the CMS-1500
claim form in item 9d for the Insurance Plan Name or Program Name for Medicare to cross over
the claim?
A. Plan name followed by "MEDIGAP"
B. Plan Payer ID followed by "MEDIGAP"
C. COBA Medigap claim-based identifier (ID)
D. Leave blank - ANSC. COBA Medigap claim-based identifier (ID)
Which guidelines must all billing personnel be knowledgeable about in order to ensure
compliance with Medicaid programs?
A. Federal guidelines
B. State guidelines
C. Both A and B
D. None - ANSC. Both A and B
Which of the following services is covered by Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and
Treatment (EPSDT)?
A. Family planning
B. Obstetric care
C. Pediatric checkups
D. Emergency department visits - ANSC. Pediatric checkups
A female patient who was involved in an auto accident presents to the emergency department
(ED) for evaluation. She does not have any complaints. The provider evaluates her and
determines there are no injuries. The provider informs the patient to come back to the ED or see
her primary care physician if she develops any symptoms. How is the claim processed for this
encounter?
A. The medical insurance is billed primary and the auto insurance is billed secondary.
B. The auto insurance is billed primary and the medical insurance is billed secondary.
C. Bill the medical insurance first to receive a denial and then submit with the remittance advice
to the auto insurance.
D. Bill only the medical insurance because the auto insurance only covers damage to the
vehicle, not medical expenses. - ANSB. The auto insurance is billed primary and the medical
insurance is billed secondary.
What forms need to be submitted when billing for a work-related injury?
A. Progress reports, and WC-1500 claim form
B. UB-04
C. First Report of Injury form and an itemized statement
, D. First Report of Injury form, progress reports, and CMS-1500 claim form - ANSD. First
Report of Injury form, progress reports, and CMS-1500 claim form
A document provided to Medicare patients explaining their financial responsibility if Medicare
denies a service is a(n):
A. Notice of Financial Liability
B. Advance Beneficiary Notice
C. Insurance waiver
D. Explanation of Benefits - ANSB. Advance Beneficiary Notice
What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?
A. Groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who coordinate high quality
care to Medicare patients.
B. An insurance carrier that provides a set fee based on the diagnosis of the patient.
C. A group of providers who contract with a third party administrator to pay fee for service for
services.
D. Hospitals who see a subset of patients for cost efficiency. - ANSA. Groups of doctors,
hospitals, and other health care providers who coordinate high quality care to Medicare patients.
A new patient presents for her annual exam and has no complaints. She is scheduled to see the
physician assistant (PA). How should services be billed ?
A. Bill under the PA.
B. A new patient can be billed incident to the physician.
C. The PA cannot see new patients.
D. Reschedule the patient with the physician - ANSA. Bill under the PA.
CPT® codes 12032 and 12001 were reported together for a 2.6 cm intermediate repair of a
laceration to the right arm and a 2.5 cm simple repair of a laceration to the left arm. 12001 was
denied as a bundled service. What action should be taken by the biller (following the CPT®
guidelines)?
A. Write-off the charge for 12001 as it is a bundled procedure.
B. Resubmit a corrected claim as 12032, 12001-59.
C. Transfer the charge to patient responsibility.
D. Resubmit a corrected claim as 12032, 12001-51. - ANSB. Resubmit a corrected claim as
12032, 12001-59.
According to CMS, which of the following services are included in the global package for
surgical procedures?
I. Surgical procedure performed
with complete solution
Joe and Mary are a married couple and both carry insurance from their employers. Joe was
born on February 23, 1977 and Mary was born on April 4, 1974. Using the birthday rule, who
carries the primary insurance for their children for billing?
A. Joe, because he is the male head of the household.
B. Mary, because her date of birth is the 4th and Joe's date of birth is the 23rd.
C. Mary, because her birth year is before Joe's birth year.
D. Joe, because his birth month and day are before Mary's birth month and day. - ANSD. Joe,
because his birth month and day are before Mary's birth month and day.
Which type of managed care insurance allows patients to self-refer to out-of-network providers
and pay a higher co-insurance/copay amount?
I. HMO
II. PPO
III. EPO
IV. POS
V. Capitation
A. II
B. IV
C. II and IV
D. II, III, and V - ANSC. II and IV
A patient covered by a PPO is scheduled for knee replacement surgery. The biller contacts the
insurance carrier to verify benefits and preauthorize the procedure. The carrier verifies the
patient has a $500 deductible which must be met. After the deductible, the PPO will pay 80% of
the claim. The contracted rate for the procedure is $2,500. What is the patient's responsibility?
A. $400
B. $500
C. $900
D. $1,600 - ANSC. $900
When a nonparticipating provider files a claim for a patient to BC/BS, how is the payment
processed?
,A. The payment is sent to the patient and the patient must pay the provider.
B. The payment is sent to the provider if the provider agrees to accept assignment.
C. The payment is sent to the provider regardless if he accepts assignment.
D. The claim is not paid because the provider is not participating in the plan. - ANSA. The
payment is sent to the patient and the patient must pay the provider.
Which of the following TRICARE options is/are available to active duty service members?
A. TRICARE Select
B. TRICARE Prime
C. TRICARE For Life
D. TRICARE Young Adult - ANSB. TRICARE Prime
A Medicare card will list which of the following:
I. Effective date of coverage
II. Home address
III. Telephone Number
IV. Entitled to Part A and/or Part B
V. When coverage ends
VI. Name of Primary Care Physician
A. I - VI
B. I, IV
C. I-III, VI
D. I, II, IV, V - ANSB. I, IV
In which of the following scenarios is Medicare the secondary payer?
I. A 65 year-old patient who is collecting her deceased spouse's Medicare benefits and has a
supplemental insurance
II. A 72 year-old patient who participates in the group health insurance of his employer
III. A 66 year-old patient is injured at work and the employer does not offer health insurance as a
benefit of employment
IV. A 55 year-old patient who is on disability through Social Security and qualifies for Medicaid
and Medicare
A. I-IV
B. II and III
C. I and IV
D. None - ANSB. II and III
,When a patient has Medicare primary and AARP as Medigap, what is entered on the CMS-1500
claim form in item 9d for the Insurance Plan Name or Program Name for Medicare to cross over
the claim?
A. Plan name followed by "MEDIGAP"
B. Plan Payer ID followed by "MEDIGAP"
C. COBA Medigap claim-based identifier (ID)
D. Leave blank - ANSC. COBA Medigap claim-based identifier (ID)
Which guidelines must all billing personnel be knowledgeable about in order to ensure
compliance with Medicaid programs?
A. Federal guidelines
B. State guidelines
C. Both A and B
D. None - ANSC. Both A and B
Which of the following services is covered by Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and
Treatment (EPSDT)?
A. Family planning
B. Obstetric care
C. Pediatric checkups
D. Emergency department visits - ANSC. Pediatric checkups
A female patient who was involved in an auto accident presents to the emergency department
(ED) for evaluation. She does not have any complaints. The provider evaluates her and
determines there are no injuries. The provider informs the patient to come back to the ED or see
her primary care physician if she develops any symptoms. How is the claim processed for this
encounter?
A. The medical insurance is billed primary and the auto insurance is billed secondary.
B. The auto insurance is billed primary and the medical insurance is billed secondary.
C. Bill the medical insurance first to receive a denial and then submit with the remittance advice
to the auto insurance.
D. Bill only the medical insurance because the auto insurance only covers damage to the
vehicle, not medical expenses. - ANSB. The auto insurance is billed primary and the medical
insurance is billed secondary.
What forms need to be submitted when billing for a work-related injury?
A. Progress reports, and WC-1500 claim form
B. UB-04
C. First Report of Injury form and an itemized statement
, D. First Report of Injury form, progress reports, and CMS-1500 claim form - ANSD. First
Report of Injury form, progress reports, and CMS-1500 claim form
A document provided to Medicare patients explaining their financial responsibility if Medicare
denies a service is a(n):
A. Notice of Financial Liability
B. Advance Beneficiary Notice
C. Insurance waiver
D. Explanation of Benefits - ANSB. Advance Beneficiary Notice
What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?
A. Groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who coordinate high quality
care to Medicare patients.
B. An insurance carrier that provides a set fee based on the diagnosis of the patient.
C. A group of providers who contract with a third party administrator to pay fee for service for
services.
D. Hospitals who see a subset of patients for cost efficiency. - ANSA. Groups of doctors,
hospitals, and other health care providers who coordinate high quality care to Medicare patients.
A new patient presents for her annual exam and has no complaints. She is scheduled to see the
physician assistant (PA). How should services be billed ?
A. Bill under the PA.
B. A new patient can be billed incident to the physician.
C. The PA cannot see new patients.
D. Reschedule the patient with the physician - ANSA. Bill under the PA.
CPT® codes 12032 and 12001 were reported together for a 2.6 cm intermediate repair of a
laceration to the right arm and a 2.5 cm simple repair of a laceration to the left arm. 12001 was
denied as a bundled service. What action should be taken by the biller (following the CPT®
guidelines)?
A. Write-off the charge for 12001 as it is a bundled procedure.
B. Resubmit a corrected claim as 12032, 12001-59.
C. Transfer the charge to patient responsibility.
D. Resubmit a corrected claim as 12032, 12001-51. - ANSB. Resubmit a corrected claim as
12032, 12001-59.
According to CMS, which of the following services are included in the global package for
surgical procedures?
I. Surgical procedure performed
