Free NCMA Medical Billing and Coding Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code set?

Accepted Answer

To classify diagnoses, symptoms, and reasons for a patient encounter.

Answer

To report medical procedures and services performed by a provider.

Answer

To identify medical supplies and equipment.

Answer

To document a patient's consent for treatment.

Question 2

A patient visit for a routine annual physical would be coded using which category of CPT codes?

Accepted Answer

Evaluation and Management

Answer

Anesthesia

Answer

Surgery

Answer

Radiology

Question 3

In many ICD-10-CM codes, particularly for injuries, what does the 7th character extension typically signify?

Accepted Answer

The episode of care (e.g., initial, subsequent, sequela).

Answer

The severity of the disease (mild, moderate, severe).

Answer

The anatomical location of the injury (e.g., left vs. right).

Answer

The patient's age group.

Question 4

A provider performs a minor surgical procedure during the same visit as a significant, separately identifiable Evaluation and Management (E/M) service. Which CPT modifier should be appended to the E/M code?

Accepted Answer

-25 (Significant, Separately Identifiable E/M Service)

Answer

-51 (Multiple Procedures)

Answer

-59 (Distinct Procedural Service)

Answer

-24 (Unrelated E/M Service by the Same Physician During a Postoperative Period)

Question 5

Intentionally using a code to bill for a more complex and expensive service than the one that was actually performed is known as what?

Accepted Answer

Upcoding

Answer

Bundling

Answer

Downcoding

Answer

Auditing

Question 6

Which code set would be used to report a vaccination administration and the vaccine itself?

Accepted Answer

CPT codes

Answer

Only ICD-10-CM codes

Answer

Only HCPCS Level II codes

Answer

Both ICD-10-CM and DSM-5 codes