Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

CPC Exam Review Video

Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page

Practice Exam

2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Second CPC attempt coming up and I am panicking

Hello all,

Here is a little bit of background. I went through coding training in 2017, landed a coding job at my local hospital in January 2018. My new job requires that you get your CPC before your 1 year mark. I took my first attempt in March and got a 65%. I ran out of time and had to speed guess on 18 questions. Yeah, 18 questions. It was horrible, I left in tears.

My next try is in the middle of July. I bought the practice AAPC exams, I have been highlighting my guidelines, I also bought the CPC exam review. So here is my plan for this next try: I am going to start at the end. I am slow with some CPT sections but really quick with everything else so I was told my best bet would be to start in the back and work to the front. I am also going to NOT wear earplugs this time because last time I didn’t hear the proctor say the 30 minute mark. I also got a hotel room right next to the hospital where the test is because I live an hour and a half away and I DO NOT want to risk anything going wrong. I have been seriously trying to study everyday. It’s hard because I go to work at 6am and don’t leave until 4:00pm and then after making dinner and packing lunches, I am absolutely exhausted so I really do try. I’ve been studying for months. So I have a few questions for you all:

1. How often did you study for your exam?
2. I keep seeing people recommending to read the answers first then the question. I am worried if I do that, I will forget which code is which and I will have to go back and look at the answers again after I read the question. Am I not understanding this tip right?
3. Any other advice?

I am absolutely petrified. I am a HORRIBLE test taker. All through high school and college all the way to now, my late 20s. I can’t let my boss down, I cannot let my family down. Can you all tell I am sorta a mess? lol I took one of the 50 question AAPC exams and got a 72% so now I am even more worried. Granted I took the test right in the middle of horrible allergy attack and I couldn’t see out of my right eye lol.

Thank you for any suggestions or calming me down 😛

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Sequencing Suicide Attempt with Bipolar Disorder

I am looking for guidance surrounding MS-DRG assignment when a patient is admitted to an acute inpatient hospital for the suicide attempt and then transferred to acute behavioral health. I can’t find coding clinics nor Excludes 1 or 2 notes that directs you to code the Bipolar disorder first instead of the Poisoning. Our UR department is stating that in order to get paid the Bipolar disorder needs to be principle diagnosis.

Thoughts?

Thank you,
Joanne

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Complicated attempt at coil retrieval

Here is the op note: I haven’t seen anything like this before, so I was hoping to get some ideas from all of you. Thanks!

Procedure: 1. Bilateral pulmonary angiogram.
2. Attempted coil retrieval

TECHNIQUE: A 7 French sheath had been previously placed in the left arm fistula. This was exchanged over wire for a 90 cm 7 French sheath. This was placed in the right atrium and then the right ventricle. The coil was well see on all views. The coil appeared to be inferior to the ring of the tricuspid valve.

Multiple attempts were made to place a catheter near left of the coil to touch over the wire. These were all unsuccessful. The location of the coil was uncertain on fluoroscopic images alone. A 4 French pigtail catheter was placed into the left pulmonary artery. A left pulmonary arteriogram was performed.

The catheter was then placed into the right pulmonary artery. A right pulmonary arteriogram was then performed. The catheters exchanged for another 5 French catheter. Additional attempts were made to get close to the coil.

These were unsuccessful. The catheter and sheath were then removed and a short 7 French sheath was left in the fistula in the left arm. This was secured in place with 2-0 silk.

Findings: Cardiac: The patient has had a previous surgery and radiopaque band is seen at the tricuspid valve. The coil was well seen inferior and slightly to the left of this valve.

Left pulmonary arteriogram: Left pulmonary arteries branch normally. No filling defects are seen. The coil was not contained in any pulmonary arteries.

Right pulmonary arteriogram: Right pulmonary artery fills normally. No filling defects are seen. The coil was not in the right pulmonary arteries.

I am super unsure on how to code this. I don’t do ANY cardiac catheterizations, so I don’t want to make a misstep here. Please help!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

HHS Warns of Phishing Attempt Disguised as Audit Communication

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued an alert, warning of phishing attempts disguised as audit communication. It has come to our attention that a phishing email is being circulated on mock HHS Departmental letterhead under the signature of OCR’s Director, Jocelyn Samuels. This email appears to be an official government […]
AAPC Blog