Clinical Coding Flashcards
6 cards from real CCDS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Clinical Coding flashcards as text
In ICD-10-CM, the 'code first' instruction requires the coder to:
Answer: Assign the etiology code before the manifestation code
The 'code first' instruction in ICD-10-CM indicates an etiology/manifestation coding convention where the etiology must be sequenced before the manifestation.
A patient with Type 2 diabetes is admitted for a diabetic foot ulcer. The record documents the ulcer extends to bone. Which ICD-10-CM code best captures the depth?
Answer: L97.504 - Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of foot with necrosis of bone
When an ulcer extends to bone, ICD-10-CM provides a specific code indicating necrosis of bone. This level of specificity is important for capturing the full severity of the condition.
When coding a patient who develops ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) during an ICU stay, which ICD-10-CM code is assigned?
Answer: J95.851 - Ventilator-associated pneumonia
J95.851 is the specific ICD-10-CM code for ventilator-associated pneumonia. It is a complication of care code and should only be assigned when the physician has documented VAP.
What is the correct ICD-10-CM coding for a patient with chronic systolic heart failure admitted for acute exacerbation?
Answer: Code the acute-on-chronic systolic heart failure with the appropriate combined code
ICD-10-CM provides combined codes for acute-on-chronic heart failure conditions. For example, I50.23 (Acute-on-chronic systolic congestive heart failure) captures both the chronic baseline and the acute exacerbation in a single code.
Under ICD-10-PCS, which root operation describes surgically cutting a body part without draining fluids or removing tissue?
Answer: Division
Division is the ICD-10-PCS root operation for cutting into or separating a body part. No tissue is removed and no fluid is drained.
A CDI specialist reviews a case where a patient undergoes CABG using a saphenous vein graft harvested from the left leg. How many ICD-10-PCS codes are required at minimum?
Answer: Two codes: one for the bypass and one for the vein harvest
When a conduit is harvested from a different anatomical site than the bypass site, ICD-10-PCS requires a separate code for the harvest procedure. The CABG bypass code and the saphenous vein excision harvest code are both required.