Free AAPC CPC Practice Exam with Questions & Answers

The correct answer is A. 72050. Modifier 26 is used to report the professional component of a service when the provider performs only the physician work portion, such as interpretation and report, and not the technical portion of the service. This modifier is commonly applicable to diagnostic services that may be divided into professional and technical components. Radiology services are the classic example because one entity may perform the imaging study using equipment and staff, while a physician separately interprets the images and issues the report. Medicare guidance also describes modifier 26 as appropriate when a physician interprets a test but does not perform the technical portion, especially for radiology services such as X-rays.

Code 72050 is a diagnostic radiology CPT® code for a cervical spine X-ray study, which supports a professional and technical component split. By contrast, 99283 is an emergency department E/M code, 90460 is immunization administration, and 93042 already represents interpretation/report work, so modifier 26 is not the best choice for those options.

Reference topics: CPC Modifiers; CPT Appendix A Modifier 26; Radiology Coding; Professional Component versus Technical Component.

The documented study is atransvaginal pelvic ultrasound, which is coded with76830(ultrasound, transvaginal). Because the service is billed by anindependent radiologist providing only the interpretation, the correct reporting is theprofessional componentwith modifier-26(interpretation and report), not the global code. That makes76830-26the correct CPT selection. Code76817is fortransvaginal ultrasound in pregnancy/obstetric contexts, which is not supported here (the patient is menopausal and no pregnancy evaluation is described). For diagnosis, the chief complaint isuterine cramping, and the options provide pelvic pain codes;N94.89(other specified conditions associated with female genital organs and menstrual cycle) is the best match among the choices provided for uterine cramping/pelvic symptom documentation.N94.9is less specific (“unspecified”), so when a more specific option is available in the answer set, selectN94.89. Therefore, the correct combination for the interpreting independent radiologist is76830-26, N94.89.

The operative approach is explicitlyopen surgery, so the correct CPT procedure code is44950(appendectomy; open). Code44970is thelaparoscopicappendectomy code and is not supported because the scenario states “open surgery.” For diagnosis, the physician’s final diagnosis ischronic appendicitis, which is reported withK36(other appendicitis) in the context of this question’s choices;K35.80represents acute appendicitis (unspecified acute) and does not match “chronic.” You also do not report symptom codes (nausea/vomiting/abdominal pain) once a definitive diagnosis is established and documented as the reason for the surgery, unless a guideline or scenario specifically requires them as additional reporting (this question does not). Therefore, the correct pairing is44950withK36only. CPC exam tip: always matchapproach(open vs laparoscopic) and code thefinal confirmed diagnosisrather than presenting symptoms when the definitive diagnosis is known.

CPT® code 27566 involves excision of the patella. Given the surgical description provided, this code is appropriate as the patella was severely damaged and removed entirely.

Patient ' s Condition: Dislocated patella with cartilage breakdown and severe damage.

Surgical Procedure: The surgeon made an incision, dissected through soft tissue, exposed, and completely removed the patella.

Coding Decision: CPT® 27566 is chosen because it specifies excision of the patella. The modifier LT indicates the procedure was performed on the left side.

1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:

The procedure performed was a hysteroscopy to examine the uterine cavity due to abnormal vaginal bleeding. This is a diagnostic hysteroscopy.

CPT® Code 58555 is specifically for a diagnostic hysteroscopy to examine the uterine cavity, which aligns with the procedure performed in this case.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Code 58558 is for a hysteroscopy with a surgical procedure, such as biopsy or removal of a lesion or polyp, which was not performed in this case.

Code 58579 is an unlisted procedure code for the female genital system and is unnecessary here because there is a specific code (58555) for diagnostic hysteroscopy.

Code 58578 is also an unlisted hysteroscopic procedure code and is not appropriate when a specific diagnostic code exists.

3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:

AAPC guidelines indicate that 58555 should be used for diagnostic hysteroscopy procedures without any surgical intervention.

Therefore, the correct answer, following CPT® guidelines, is C. 58555.

60254 = Subtotal thyroidectomy for malignancy with radical neck dissection

60260 = Total thyroidectomy

60220 = Partial thyroidectomy, benign

60252 = Total thyroidectomy with radical neck dissection

A diagnostic mammogram performed on both breasts with computer-aided detection (CAD) is reported with CPT® code 77066. This code is used when CAD is utilized to further analyze the images for possible lesions, and it covers both breasts.

The procedure described involves the removal of electrodes from the cranial area after making an incision in the scalp and performing a craniectomy.

Procedure Description:

Incision in the scalp.

Craniectomy to access the area with electrodes.

Removal of electrodes.

Closure of the surgical wound.

CPT® Coding:

61860: Removal of intracranial neurostimulator electrodes, including burr hole(s) or craniectomy.

AMA ' s CPT® Professional Edition (current year).

CPT® Assistant for detailed coding guidelines on neurostimulator procedures.

A41.52 = Sepsis due to Enterococcus.

When the organism is specified, a combination code is used.

No additional code for severe sepsis is documented.

Malignant lesion destruction → CPT 17260–17286

Trunk/extremities

0.6–1.0 cm → 17261

1.1–2.0 cm → 17262

Both lesions are reported separately.