CPC Trivia 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does HCPCS stand for in medical coding?
- Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (Correct answer)
- Health Center Procedural Classification System
- Hospital Coding and Claims Processing System
- Health Care Provider Coding Standards
Correct answer: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
HCPCS stands for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, which includes CPT codes (Level I) and alphanumeric codes (Level II).
Question 2: Which modifier indicates a service was performed by two surgeons?
- -51
- -62 (Correct answer)
- -66
- -80
Correct answer: -62
Modifier -62 is used when two surgeons work together as co-primary surgeons performing distinct parts of a procedure.
Question 3: In ICD-10-CM, which placeholder character is used when a code requires a seventh character but the code is fewer than six characters?
- 0
- 9
- X (Correct answer)
- Z
Correct answer: X
The letter 'X' is used as a placeholder in ICD-10-CM codes to allow a required seventh character to be assigned correctly.
Question 4: What is the name of the official guidelines used alongside ICD-10-CM for coding?
- AMA Coding Companion
- ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (Correct answer)
- CMS National Coverage Determinations
- UHDDS Data Dictionary
Correct answer: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, published by the cooperating parties, provide the rules for ICD-10-CM code assignment.
Question 5: Which CPT appendix lists add-on codes?
- Appendix A
- Appendix B
- Appendix D (Correct answer)
- Appendix E
Correct answer: Appendix D
CPT Appendix D lists all add-on codes (codes that may not be reported alone and must accompany a primary procedure code).
Question 6: What does the term 'unbundling' mean in the context of medical coding compliance?
- Combining multiple codes into one
- Reporting component codes separately instead of using a comprehensive code (Correct answer)
- Splitting a claim across multiple dates
- Assigning codes from two different code sets for the same service
Correct answer: Reporting component codes separately instead of using a comprehensive code
Unbundling refers to reporting separate component codes when a single comprehensive code should be used, which is a coding compliance violation.
Question 7: Which organization publishes and maintains CPT codes?
- CMS
- WHO
- AMA (Correct answer)
- AAPC
Correct answer: AMA
The American Medical Association (AMA) owns and publishes CPT codes, updating them annually each October for the following year.
CPC Trivia 3
What does HCPCS stand for in medical coding?