AAPC CPC - Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam

71048 – Radiologic examination, chest; complete, minimum of 4 views

Includes 6 views

CPT codes are based on ranges, not per-view billing

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

71047 – 2 views only

CPT does not allow “× view” reporting

Procedure: Complete cardiac MRI for morphology and function without contrast, followed by contrast with four additional sequences and stress imaging.

CPT® Codes:

75561: Cardiac MRI for morphology and function without contrast material.

75563: Cardiac MRI with contrast and further sequences.

ICD-10-CM Codes:

I50.1: Left ventricular failure.

I49.1: Premature ventricular contractions.

Code Selection Justification: The CPT® codes accurately capture the MRI procedures performed. The ICD-10-CM codes represent the diagnoses of left ventricular failure and premature ventricular contractions.

AMA CPT® Professional Edition (current year)

ICD-10-CM (current year)

HCPCS Level II (current year)

60220 = Total lobectomy, unilateral thyroid

60500 = Parathyroidectomy (single gland)

Modifier -59 is appropriate to indicate a distinct procedure

The CPT code 11960 is used for the insertion of tissue expanders for other than breast, which includes the scalp in this case. The procedure involves inserting the tissue expanders, closing the skin, and gradually increasing the volume of the expanders until a satisfactory outcome is achieved for repairing the scalp defect. The other options do not accurately describe the procedure performed on the scalp.

AMA ' s CPT® Professional Edition (current year)

1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:

The cardiologist provided remote monitoring over a 30-day period for a hemodynamic pulmonary artery pressure monitor implanted in a patient with congestive heart failure.

CPT® Code 93264 is appropriate for remote monitoring of a hemodynamic system for up to 30 days. This code includes services such as weekly data transmissions, interpretation, trend analysis, and reporting—exactly as described in this case.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Code 93286 is for in-person interrogation and programming of pacemakers or defibrillators, not for remote monitoring of a hemodynamic monitor, making it incorrect.

Code 93288 is for interrogation device evaluation (remote), specifically for pacemakers or defibrillators, and does not apply to a pulmonary artery pressure monitor.

Code 93279 is for in-person programming of certain cardiac devices, which does not match the remote monitoring described in this scenario.

3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:

AAPC and CPT® guidelines specify that 93264 is the correct code when reporting remote hemodynamic monitoring for a pulmonary artery pressure device over a period of up to 30 days, including data review and interpretation.

Therefore, the correct answer is B. 93264.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a kidney.

Part of the ureter: Removal includes part of the ureter.

50220: Nephrectomy (open procedure), which doesn ' t apply since the procedure was laparoscopic.

50548: Nephrectomy, partial, laparoscopic, which doesn ' t match the full nephrectomy performed.

50543: Laparoscopy, surgical; nephrectomy with total ureterectomy.

50543 is the correct CPT code for the laparoscopic removal of the kidney along with part of the ureter, fitting the scenario described.

In ICD-10-CM coding, personal history codes are used to indicate a patient’s past medical conditions that no longer exist and are not receiving active treatment, but that may influence current care or require continued monitoring.

A. is correct because a personal history code can indeed be reported as a primary code if the encounter is specifically for screening due to a past condition.

B. is correct because personal history codes can be reported with follow-up codes to indicate that the patient is being monitored for recurrence of the past condition.

D. is correct because a personal history code is used when the patient no longer has or is being treated for that condition, but it remains relevant to the patient’s health history.

C. is false because a personal history code is not used indiscriminately on any medical record; it is only appropriate when the past condition is relevant to the current encounter or impacts current patient care.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. A personal history code is acceptable on any medical record regardless of the reason of the visit.

CPT Code 62290: Discography, lumbar, single or multiple levels, radiological supervision and interpretation

This code accurately describes the procedure performed. The documentation indicates a lumbar discography was performed at a single level (L3-4) with radiological supervision (C-arm visualization).

ICD-10-CM Code M54.50: Low back pain, unspecified

This code is the most appropriate diagnosis based on the documentation. The preoperative diagnosis states " Low back pain possible spinal stenosis L3-4. " While spinal stenosis was considered, it was not confirmed. The postoperative diagnosis indicates no evidence of spinal stenosis or discogenic pathology. Therefore, the definitive diagnosis is low back pain.

Why other options are incorrect:

62292: This code is for a discography with injection of contrast and/or medication for therapeutic purposes. The documentation doesn ' t indicate any therapeutic injection was performed.

M48.061 and M48.07: These codes represent spinal stenosis, which was not confirmed in the postoperative diagnosis.

In the CPT® book, codes that contain a semicolon (;) indicate that the portion of the description before the semicolon applies to all codes in that series, and the text after the semicolon completes the individual code description.

For the small intestinal endoscopy (enteroscopy) codes:

The parent code describes: “Small intestinal endoscopy, enteroscopy beyond second portion of duodenum, not including ileum;”

CPT® 44361 specifically adds: “with biopsy, single or multiple.”

Therefore, the full description of CPT® 44361 is:

Small intestinal endoscopy, enteroscopy beyond second portion of duodenum, not including ileum; with biopsy, single or multiple.

Omalizumab is a drug reported withHCPCS J2357, and the dose is converted into billable units based on the code’s unit definition. In CPC-style questions,150 mgis commonly represented asJ2357 × 30 units(i.e., 5 mg per unit → 150/5 = 30). Administration is atherapeutic subcutaneous injection, reported with96372(therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection; subcutaneous or intramuscular). Vaccine administration codes (90460/90471) are not appropriate because omalizumab is not a vaccine. For diagnosis, the statement includesstatus asthmaticusbut does not specify severity category (mild/moderate/severe persistent). In the options provided,J45.902is the “unspecified asthma with status asthmaticus” concept, whereas J45.52 requires severe persistent asthma with status asthmaticus (not documented). Therefore, the correct pairing is96372 + J2357 × 30 + J45.902. CPC exam tip: match administration code type (therapeutic injection vs immunization) and choose the most specific ICD-10-CM supported by documentation.