CMC HCPCS Level II Coding 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the acronym HCPCS stand for?
- Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (Correct answer)
- Health Care Procedural Coding Standard
- Hospital Common Procedure Classification System
- Healthcare Coding Procedure Classification System
Correct answer: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
HCPCS stands for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, a standardized coding system used for Medicare and Medicaid billing.
Question 2: HCPCS Level II codes consist of which alphanumeric format?
- Five numeric digits
- One letter followed by four numeric digits (Correct answer)
- Two letters followed by three numeric digits
- Three letters followed by two numeric digits
Correct answer: One letter followed by four numeric digits
HCPCS Level II codes consist of one letter (A through V) followed by four numeric digits, distinguishing them from CPT's all-numeric format.
Question 3: Which organization is responsible for maintaining and updating HCPCS Level II codes?
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (Correct answer)
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
Correct answer: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) maintains and updates HCPCS Level II codes, unlike CPT codes which are maintained by the AMA.
Question 4: HCPCS Level II codes primarily cover which types of services and items?
- Physician office visits and surgical procedures
- Supplies, equipment, drugs, and non-physician services not covered by CPT (Correct answer)
- Inpatient hospital stays and diagnosis-related groups
- Laboratory tests and pathology services only
Correct answer: Supplies, equipment, drugs, and non-physician services not covered by CPT
HCPCS Level II codes cover durable medical equipment, supplies, drugs, ambulance services, and other items not adequately described by CPT codes.
Question 5: Which HCPCS Level II code range is specifically designated for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)?
- A codes (A0000–A9999)
- E codes (E0100–E9999) (Correct answer)
- K codes (K0000–K9999)
- L codes (L0100–L9999)
Correct answer: E codes (E0100–E9999)
E codes (E0100–E9999) are specifically designated for Durable Medical Equipment such as hospital beds, walkers, and wheelchairs.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of HCPCS Level II modifiers?
- To indicate a procedure was performed bilaterally
- To provide additional information or alter the description of a service or supply (Correct answer)
- To denote that a service was not covered by the payer
- To identify the type of anesthesia used during a procedure
Correct answer: To provide additional information or alter the description of a service or supply
HCPCS Level II modifiers provide additional information or circumstances that alter the description of a supply or service being billed.
Question 7: Which HCPCS Level II code section covers ambulance and other transportation services?
- A codes (Correct answer)
- B codes
- D codes
- S codes
Correct answer: A codes
A codes (specifically A0021–A0999) cover ambulance and other transportation services in the HCPCS Level II system.
CMC HCPCS Level II Coding 1
What does the acronym HCPCS stand for?