CCDM Medical Coding 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following correctly describes the MedDRA Preferred Term (PT)?
- A distinct descriptor for a symptom, sign, disease, or other medical concept (Correct answer)
- The highest hierarchical level grouping all terms
- A synonym list for verbatim terms only
- A billing code for medical procedures
Correct answer: A distinct descriptor for a symptom, sign, disease, or other medical concept
A PT is a medically precise descriptor representing a single medical concept used as the primary analysis unit in MedDRA coding.
Question 2: When coding a concomitant medication in a clinical trial, the coder should use which drug dictionary?
- WHO Drug Dictionary (WHO-DD) (Correct answer)
- MedDRA
- ICD-10-CM
- SNOMED CT
Correct answer: WHO Drug Dictionary (WHO-DD)
The WHO Drug Dictionary (WHO-DD) is the international standard used to code concomitant and study medications in clinical trials.
Question 3: In ICD-10-CM, the placeholder character 'X' is used to:
- Allow for future expansion and maintain the required code length (Correct answer)
- Indicate an unspecified code
- Mark a code as exempt from present-on-admission reporting
- Denote a manifestation code
Correct answer: Allow for future expansion and maintain the required code length
The placeholder 'X' fills character positions in a code to maintain the required structure when a specific character is not applicable.
Question 4: A clinical trial protocol requires coding all adverse events using MedDRA version 25.0. Midway through the trial, MedDRA version 26.0 is released. What is the appropriate action?
- Continue with v25.0 until the study ends unless a version upgrade is formally approved (Correct answer)
- Immediately switch all coding to v26.0
- Use v26.0 for new events and retain v25.0 for historical events
- Notify FDA and suspend coding activities
Correct answer: Continue with v25.0 until the study ends unless a version upgrade is formally approved
Unless a formal version upgrade plan is approved and implemented across the entire dataset, the study should continue with the version specified in the protocol.
Question 5: Which CPT modifier indicates that a procedure was performed by two surgeons due to the complexity of the case?
- -62 (Correct answer)
- -80
- -51
- -59
Correct answer: -62
CPT modifier -62 indicates that two surgeons worked together as co-surgeons during a single procedure, each reporting the same code with -62 appended.
Question 6: In clinical data management, 'coding consistency' is best maintained by:
- Using a sponsor-specific coding guide with decision trees and examples (Correct answer)
- Allowing each coder to make independent judgments without documentation
- Relying solely on autocoding software without human review
- Retraining coders after each adverse event is coded
Correct answer: Using a sponsor-specific coding guide with decision trees and examples
A well-defined coding guide with decision trees, examples, and escalation procedures ensures consistent coding decisions across coders and studies.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of the HCPCS Level II coding system?
- To code products, supplies, and services not covered by CPT, including DME and ambulance services (Correct answer)
- To replace ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for Medicare claims
- To classify surgical procedures performed in hospital outpatient settings
- To provide a drug coding system for clinical trials
Correct answer: To code products, supplies, and services not covered by CPT, including DME and ambulance services
HCPCS Level II codes cover non-physician services such as durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and ambulance services not described by CPT codes.
CCDM Medical Coding 4
Which of the following correctly describes the MedDRA Preferred Term (PT)?