CPC - Certified Professional Coder Anesthesia Coding Guidelines Questions and Answers

Question 1

An anesthesiologist begins preparing a patient for surgery in the operating room at 08:00.
The surgical procedure starts at 08:30 and finishes at 10:00.
The anesthesiologist transfers care of the patient to the PACU nurse at 10:15.
What is the total reportable anesthesia time?

Accepted Answer

135 minutes

Answer

90 minutes

Answer

120 minutes

Answer

105 minutes

Question 2

A 75-year-old patient with severe, uncontrolled diabetes and end-stage renal disease, which are a constant threat to life, presents for a cholecystectomy. Which physical status modifier should be appended to the anesthesia code?

Accepted Answer

P4

Answer

P2

Answer

P3

Answer

P5

Question 3

Which of the following situations would warrant the use of a qualifying circumstances add-on code for anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Anesthesia complicated by the utilization of controlled hypotension.

Answer

Anesthesia for a patient with mild, controlled asthma.

Answer

Anesthesia for a 10-year-old healthy patient.

Answer

Anesthesia provided using a standard epidural technique.

Question 4

A highly claustrophobic 45-year-old patient requires general anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist to undergo an MRI of the lumbar spine. Which CPT code should be reported for the anesthesia service?

Accepted Answer

01922

Answer

00630

Answer

01992

Answer

01991

Question 5

The base unit value assigned to an anesthesia CPT code includes all of the following services EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A nerve block performed by the anesthesiologist solely for postoperative pain management.

Answer

Usual preoperative and postoperative visits.

Answer

Administration of fluids and/or blood as part of the anesthesia care.

Answer

Standard monitoring services like ECG, temperature, and oximetry.

Question 6

An anesthesiologist provides general anesthesia for a total hip arthroplasty. After the surgical procedure is complete, and at the surgeon's request, the anesthesiologist performs a femoral nerve block for postoperative pain management. How should the anesthesiologist report their services?

Accepted Answer

Report the anesthesia code and the nerve block code, appending modifier 59 to the nerve block code.

Answer

Report only the anesthesia code for the hip arthroplasty.

Answer

Report the nerve block as the primary service and the anesthesia as secondary.

Answer

Report the anesthesia code and append modifier 22 for the extra work of the nerve block.