CHAPTER 46 MEDICAL CODING EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Examples of services that require HCPCS codes - Answer-supplies, materials,
specific medications, ambulance services and some services.
Describe the process of looking up HCPCS codes. - Answer-locate the item or
service in the index; they are arranged alphabetically by initial letter then numerically
by the 4 digits.
Describe the history of the international classification of Diseases (ICD) coding
system. - Answer-in 1948- WHO published the first edition of the international
classification of diseases, which assigns numbers to specific diseases.
Several new features of ICD-10-CM codes compared to ICD-9-CM codes. - Answer-
more extensive information, new combination of diagnosis and symptom codes, and
added 6th and 7th digit for some conditions.
What is contained in the two parts of the ICD-10-CM manual? - Answer-Index: list of
diseases and conditions
Tabular: actual codes are displayed
What is the format of an ICD-10-CM code? - Answer-seven character code
(alphanumeric) begins with a letter, followed by two numbers. First three characters
are the "category" or general type of injury of disease; followed by a decimal point
and the subcategory.
Describe the steps to look up a diagnosis code properly. - Answer-Locate first listed
diagnosis, review the code in the tabular list to make sure it is the most specific
code.
What are z codes and when are the used? - Answer-used for patients who don't
have a disease of injury; may be used as a secondary code when a patient seeks
care for a specific disease or condition.
What are external cause codes and when are they used? - Answer-codes for
external causes of injury of poisonings; such as injury caused by collision of motor
vehicle or with another vehicle.
Differentiate between "Excludes 1" and "Excludes 2" when found under an ICD-10-
CM category code? - Answer-1: condition is not coded and patient cannot have both
excluded conditions
2: condition is not included in code BUT patient may have two conditions, one
included in the current code.
If a patient has two related conditions, which is coded first? - Answer-the main
condition (cause of underlying condition).
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Examples of services that require HCPCS codes - Answer-supplies, materials,
specific medications, ambulance services and some services.
Describe the process of looking up HCPCS codes. - Answer-locate the item or
service in the index; they are arranged alphabetically by initial letter then numerically
by the 4 digits.
Describe the history of the international classification of Diseases (ICD) coding
system. - Answer-in 1948- WHO published the first edition of the international
classification of diseases, which assigns numbers to specific diseases.
Several new features of ICD-10-CM codes compared to ICD-9-CM codes. - Answer-
more extensive information, new combination of diagnosis and symptom codes, and
added 6th and 7th digit for some conditions.
What is contained in the two parts of the ICD-10-CM manual? - Answer-Index: list of
diseases and conditions
Tabular: actual codes are displayed
What is the format of an ICD-10-CM code? - Answer-seven character code
(alphanumeric) begins with a letter, followed by two numbers. First three characters
are the "category" or general type of injury of disease; followed by a decimal point
and the subcategory.
Describe the steps to look up a diagnosis code properly. - Answer-Locate first listed
diagnosis, review the code in the tabular list to make sure it is the most specific
code.
What are z codes and when are the used? - Answer-used for patients who don't
have a disease of injury; may be used as a secondary code when a patient seeks
care for a specific disease or condition.
What are external cause codes and when are they used? - Answer-codes for
external causes of injury of poisonings; such as injury caused by collision of motor
vehicle or with another vehicle.
Differentiate between "Excludes 1" and "Excludes 2" when found under an ICD-10-
CM category code? - Answer-1: condition is not coded and patient cannot have both
excluded conditions
2: condition is not included in code BUT patient may have two conditions, one
included in the current code.
If a patient has two related conditions, which is coded first? - Answer-the main
condition (cause of underlying condition).
