Free AAPC CPC Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 8

89258 = Thawing of cryopreserved embryos

89250 = Culture of embryos, per day (reported once per encounter)

The emergent endovascular repair of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with an aorto-aortic tube endograft is coded with CPT 34702. This code includes the deployment of the endograft and the necessary balloon angioplasty for sealing the proximal and distal attachment zones.

Systematically billing all office visits at a predetermined level—without documentation supporting the requiredmedical decision making (MDM)ortime—is a classic compliance red flag and is generally treated asabuse(often described as upcoding when higher levels are billed than supported). E/M levels must reflect what was actually performed and documented for that encounter, using the E/M rules (MDM elements or total time, depending on code selection). Even if a provider treats complex patients, not every visit will meet the same level; stable follow-ups may be lower complexity than acute exacerbations or new problems. “Waste” generally refers to inefficient or unnecessary use of resources without intent to misrepresent; a blanket instruction to code moderate levels suggestssystematic misbillingrather than inefficiency. Option D is incorrect because providers cannot select any level at will—coding must be supported by documentation. This type of pattern is exactly what audits target, and it can trigger overpayment recoupment, penalties, and corrective action plans.

Procedure: Caloric vestibular testing performed on both ears with three irrigations.

CPT® Code:

92537: Caloric vestibular test with recording, bilateral; bithermal (i.e., one warm and one cool irrigation in each ear).

Modifier -50: Bilateral procedure.

Code Selection Justification: The procedure performed was bilateral caloric vestibular testing with bithermal irrigation, appropriately coded with 92537 and modifier -50 for bilateral procedures.

AMA CPT® Professional Edition (current year)

Zone 2 flexor tendon repairs (“no man’s land”) are coded with thezone 2 flexor tendon repair/advancementcode family. Because the case specifieszone 2 FDP tendon repairof the index finger, the correct tendon repair code is26356(zone 2 flexor tendon repair/advancement; primary, without free graft, each tendon). The associateddigital nerve repairis separately reported with64831(suture of digital nerve; one nerve). Since both procedures are performed in the same operative session, the secondary procedure commonly carriesmodifier -51for multiple procedures when required by payer/claim conventions (as reflected in the answer choices). The operative note specifically states use of anoperating microscopefor microsurgical nerve repair, which supports add-on code69990(microsurgical techniques requiring operating microscope), reportedonce per sessionandnotwith modifier 51. Therefore, the only fully correct option including tendon, nerve repair, and microscope reporting isA.

CPT code 19081 is used for percutaneous biopsy of breast(s) using stereotactic guidance, which includes the placement of a localization device and imaging of the biopsy specimen when performed. This accurately describes the procedure performed on the right breast with the placement of a Gelmark clip using stereotactic imaging. The other codes either describe open biopsies or separate procedures that are not applicable here.

AMA ' s CPT® Professional Edition (current year)

72080 – Radiologic examination, spine; thoracolumbar junction, 2 views

Correct anatomy and number of views

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

72020 – Single view only

72114 / 72084 – Standing or scoliosis series

99213-25 = E/M with separate procedure

87880 = Rapid strep test

J02.0 = Streptococcal pharyngitis

Symptoms are not reported with definitive diagnosis

The place of service code 22 is used for services performed in an outpatient hospital setting, including outpatient surgical floors. This code indicates that the procedure was done in a hospital but not requiring an inpatient admission.

AMA ' s CPT® Professional Edition (current year), Place of Service Codes.

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are coded using thepremalignant lesion destructionCPT family17000–17004, regardless of the destruction method (e.g., laser, cryotherapy, electrosurgery), as long as the intent is destruction. Coding is based on thenumber of lesions treated in that session:17000covers thefirstlesion,17003is an add-on code for2–14 additional lesions, and17004is used when treating15 or more lesions. Because the encounter documents destruction of15 AK lesions, CPT requires reporting17004only (not 17000 + multiple units of 17003). Codes17110/17111are for destruction ofbenignlesions (e.g., warts, molluscum), which is the wrong lesion category. On CPC exams, the key is matchingpremalignant vs benignand then selecting the correct code bylesion count threshold—here the threshold is met for17004.