Certified Medical Coding Specialist CPT Procedure Coding 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: CPT codes are organized into which major sections?
- Evaluation & Management, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology/Lab, Medicine (Correct answer)
- Medical, Surgical, Procedural, Diagnostic, Therapeutic, Preventive
- Category I, II, III, IV, V, VI
- Inpatient, Outpatient, Emergency, Preventive, Specialty, Lab
Correct answer: Evaluation & Management, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology/Lab, Medicine
CPT is organized into six sections: Evaluation & Management, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology/Laboratory, and Medicine.
Question 2: What is a CPT add-on code, and how is it identified?
- A supplemental code always reported with a primary code, marked with a '+' symbol (Correct answer)
- A code used when a procedure is incomplete
- A code for bilateral procedures
- A code requiring a modifier
Correct answer: A supplemental code always reported with a primary code, marked with a '+' symbol
CPT add-on codes are identified by a '+' symbol and are always reported in conjunction with a primary procedure code, never alone.
Question 3: CPT modifier -51 is used to indicate:
- Multiple procedures performed at the same session by the same provider (Correct answer)
- A procedure performed by a different provider
- A bilateral procedure
- A repeat procedure
Correct answer: Multiple procedures performed at the same session by the same provider
Modifier -51 (Multiple Procedures) is appended to secondary and subsequent procedures performed at the same operative session.
Question 4: Which CPT section contains codes for office visits and hospital consultations?
- Evaluation and Management (99202–99499) (Correct answer)
- Medicine (90000–99199)
- Surgery (10000–69999)
- Radiology (70000–79999)
Correct answer: Evaluation and Management (99202–99499)
Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes (99202–99499) cover office visits, hospital visits, consultations, and other patient encounters.
Question 5: Category III CPT codes are:
- Temporary codes for emerging technologies, services, and procedures (Correct answer)
- Codes for performance measurement
- Deleted or superseded codes
- Codes used only by specialists
Correct answer: Temporary codes for emerging technologies, services, and procedures
Category III CPT codes are four-digit alphanumeric temporary codes used to track emerging and experimental technologies and procedures.
Question 6: When a physician performs only the professional component of a radiology service, which CPT modifier is appended?
- -26 (Correct answer)
- -TC
- -52
- -59
Correct answer: -26
Modifier -26 indicates that only the professional component (physician interpretation and report) of a diagnostic service was provided.
Certified Medical Coding Specialist CPT Procedure Coding 1
CPT codes are organized into which major sections?