CPC Coding Guideline Practice Test – Questions Answers

CPC Coding Guideline Practice Test – Questions Answers with Explanation. Try our free American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder (CPC) HCPCS Level II review questions and answers for better CPC certification prep.

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CPC Coding Guideline Practice Test

These questions are designed to test knowledge of coding guidelines, covering fundamental principles and specific clinical scenarios that a medical coder might encounter in a professional setting.

Basic Questions

Q1. What modifier indicates that more than one physician performed a service or procedure?

  • (A) 22
  • (B) 52
  • (C) 62
  • (D) 80
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: C

Rationale: Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons worked together as primary surgeons performing distinct parts of a procedure.

Q2. Which modifier indicates that a procedure or service was discontinued?

  • (A) 50
  • (B) 53
  • (C) 52
  • (D) 59
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier 53 is used to indicate that a procedure was discontinued due to extenuating circumstances or those threatening the patient’s well-being.

Q3. What does the modifier -LT stand for?

  • (A) Bilateral procedure
  • (B) Left side
  • (C) Laboratory test
  • (D) Limited procedure
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -LT is used to indicate a procedure performed on the left side of the body.

Q4. What is the purpose of modifier -59?

  • (A) To indicate a bilateral procedure
  • (B) To indicate a distinct procedural service
  • (C) To indicate a staged or related procedure
  • (D) To indicate an unrelated procedure by the same physician during the postoperative period
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -59 is used to indicate a distinct procedural service that is not normally reported together but is appropriate under the circumstances.

Q5. Which modifier is used for a partially reduced or eliminated procedure at the physician’s discretion?

  • (A) 22
  • (B) 52
  • (C) 53
  • (D) 54
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier 52 indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or eliminated at the physician’s discretion.

Q6. What is the correct use of modifier -25?

  • (A) When a significant, separately identifiable E/M service is performed by the same physician on the same day as another procedure or service
  • (B) When the same physician repeats a procedure
  • (C) When a procedure is performed on both sides of the body
  • (D) When a procedure is performed under difficult circumstances
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: A

Rationale: Modifier -25 indicates that a significant, separately identifiable E/M service was provided by the same physician on the same day as another procedure or service.

Q7. Which modifier indicates that a procedure was performed on the right side of the body?

  • (A) -LT
  • (B) -RT
  • (C) -50
  • (D) -22
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -RT indicates that a procedure was performed on the right side of the body.

Scenario-Based Questions

Q8. A patient undergoes a bilateral knee arthroscopy. Which modifier should be used?

  • (A) -50
  • (B) -RT
  • (C) -LT
  • (D) -51
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: A

Rationale: Modifier -50 is used to indicate that a procedure was performed bilaterally.

Q9. During a follow-up visit within the global period of a surgery, the physician performs a procedure unrelated to the surgery. Which modifier should be used for the new procedure?

  • (A) -58
  • (B) -24
  • (C) -79
  • (D) -25
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: C

Rationale: Modifier -79 is used to indicate that the same physician performed an unrelated procedure or service during the postoperative period.

Q10. A surgeon performs an appendectomy and a cholecystectomy during the same operative session. Which modifier should be used for the cholecystectomy?

  • (A) -50
  • (B) -59
  • (C) -51
  • (D) -58
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: C

Rationale: Modifier -51 indicates that multiple procedures were performed during the same operative session.

Q11. A procedure was performed on an infant in critical condition, requiring significantly more work than usual. Which modifier should be used?

  • (A) -22
  • (B) -24
  • (C) -25
  • (D) -26
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: A

Rationale: Modifier -22 indicates that a procedure requires significantly more work than usual due to unusual or complex circumstances.

Q12. A patient has a planned return to the operating room for a staged procedure. Which modifier should be appended to the CPT code for the staged procedure?

  • (A) -52
  • (B) -58
  • (C) -78
  • (D) -79
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -58 indicates that a staged or related procedure or service was planned or anticipated during the postoperative period.

Q13. A patient undergoes an emergency cesarean section due to fetal distress. Which modifier should be used to indicate the urgency of the procedure?

  • (A) -25
  • (B) -22
  • (C) -76
  • (D) -52
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -22 indicates increased procedural services due to the emergency nature and complexity of the procedure.

Q14. A physician performs a colonoscopy and removes two polyps, one by hot biopsy forceps and one by snare technique. Which modifier should be used to indicate multiple procedures?

  • (A) -51
  • (B) -59
  • (C) -50
  • (D) -76
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -59 indicates a distinct procedural service, which is appropriate when different techniques are used to remove polyps during the same colonoscopy.

Q15. A patient receives both preventive and problem-oriented evaluation and management (E/M) services on the same day by the same physician. Which modifier should be appended to the problem-oriented E/M code?

  • (A) -24
  • (B) -25
  • (C) -32
  • (D) -57
View Correct Answer
 Answer Key: B

Rationale: Modifier -25 indicates that a significant, separately identifiable E/M service was provided by the same physician on the same day as a preventive service.

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