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

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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

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

Closed Reduction W/o Manipulation Code Billed the Day Prior to ORIF

Good afternoon,

My orthopedic surgeon wants to bill for a closed reduction w/o manipulation code (24500) on 6/8 and bill for the ORIF (24515) on 6/9 (the following day). I advised the provider that all he did on 6/8 was assessed the condition and plan for surgery therefore, 24500 is not separately billable. According to the guideline I’m currently reviewing "if plan is for manipulative procedure at a future date, non-manipulative fracture management should not be billed" If however, "treatment is instituted, with the possibility for a manipulative procedure at a future date, bill non-manipulative fracture management". In this case, the provider already knew and planned for surgery the next day.
My understanding is that closed reduction codes without manipulation involve treating a fracture until is healed that’s why they carry a 90-day global day.
My provider wants me to add modifier 58 to the ORIF code but I think is inappropriate. I honestly think all he should be billing for 6/8 is the E/M code along with modifier 57 and for 6/9 bill for the ORIF.
Any opinions will be appreciated.

Thank you.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

CTA studies prior to TAVR

My radiologist is asking if they can charge 72175, 75574 and 74174 when they perform CTA’s in workup prior to TAVR. As far as my research seems to indicate, these three are billable when performed in the same session. As far as the aortic annular and vascular measurements, I believe they are performed by Medtronic. Does that sound right to you? My rad didn’t perform that portion and wants to make sure we aren’t billing for something he didn’t do.

I understand the ECG gating is bundled into the 75574, right? Would you bill all three CTA codes? If not, can you guide me to any literature saying so?

Thank you!

Here is an example:

EXAM: CT TAVR W/CONTRAST-TG #/##/2018
*
HISTORY: ##-year-old male with aortic stenosis undergoing preprocedural
evaluation and planning for TAVR.
*
TECHNIQUE: After scout images, a noncontrast gated scan of the heart and
nongated acquisition of the chest abdomen pelvis was acquired. Using
retrospective dose modulated ECG gating, CT angiography of the heart, was
obtained following the uneventful administration of 100 cc of Isovue-370.
intravenous contrast. An acquisition of the chest abdomen and pelvis was
then acquired utilizing a flash acquisition. Sagittal and coronal thin
MIP reconstructions were generated and reviewed.
In accordance with CT policies/protocols and the ALARA principle,
radiation dose reduction techniques (such as automated exposure control,
adjustment of mA/kV according to patient size and/or iterative
reconstruction technique) were utilized for this examination.
*
Aortic annular and vascular measurements will be generated within a
separate report.

The body of the report:

FINDINGS:
VASCULAR:
There is a left-sided 3 vessel aortic arch. No aortic aneurysm,
dissection, or intramural hematoma. There are mild ascending aortic
calcifications.
There are moderate calcified and noncalcified atherosclerotic plaques in
the aorta and its major branches. There is severe stenosis of the
bilateral subclavian arteries secondary to bilateral cervical ribs.
Significant calcification and thickening seen about the aortic valve
leaflets, consistent with known aortic stenosis. Aortic valve is
tricuspid.
*
Heart: An atrial diverticulum is noted about the intra-atrial septum.
Slitlike structure about the septum is suggestive of a PFO. Patient is
status post CABG, with patent LIMA to LAD graft as well as 2 left-sided
patent aortocoronary bypass grafts. No right-sided bypass graft
identified. There is no significant pericardial effusion.
*
Pulmonary Arteries:The pulmonary arteries are normal in caliber. No
definite pulmonary artery filling defect identified.
*
There is advanced atherosclerosis throughout the abdominal aorta with
multifocal ulcerating plaque and a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer in
the infrarenal aorta (location -480.5).
The celiac artery, SMA and IMA are patent.
One right renal artery and one left renal artery are identified. There is
moderate stenosis at the right renal ostium with poststenotic dilatation.
*
Advanced atherosclerotic changes are seen in the bilateral iliofemoral
arteries, with moderate to severe stenoses in the bilateral common iliac
arteries
*
*
CT CHEST:
Thoracic Inlet: Evaluation of the thyroid gland is limited due to beam
hardening. No supraclavicular lymphadenopathy.
Mediastinum / Hila: No pathologically enlarged lymph nodes. The esophagus
is patulous.
Chest wall: Normal.
*
Lungs / Airways: There are emphysematous changes most pronounced in the
upper lobes. Clustered groundglass opacities in the periphery of the left
upper lobe are likely infectious/inflammatory. There is dependent
atelectasis and peripheral reticulation throughout the bilateral lungs.
Central airways are patent without suspicious filling defects.
Pleural Space: There is no significant pleural effusion. No pneumothorax
is seen.
*
CT ABDOMEN / PELVIS:
Liver: Unremarkable.
Gallbladder: Normal.
Bile Ducts: Normal.
Pancreas: No suspicious pancreatic mass.
Spleen: Unremarkable.
GI Tract: Unremarkable.
*
Kidneys: Symmetric perfusion. No hydronephrosis or suspicious renal
masses.
Adrenals: No discrete adrenal nodules.
*
Lymph nodes: No pathologically enlarged lymph nodes.
*
Pelvic Organs: There is prostatomegaly.
Bladder: Diffuse wall thickening is likely related to chronic outlet
obstruction.
Miscellaneous: No significant free fluid.
Abdominal Wall: Unremarkable.
*
Bones: Sternotomy wiring is intact. There are multilevel degenerative
changes throughout the visualized spine. No acute fractures.
*
IMPRESSION:
*Severe stenoses of the bilateral subclavian artery secondary to cervical
ribs. Advanced atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and iliofemoral
arteries, with moderate to severe stenoses in the bilateral common iliac
arteries and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer in the infrarenal aorta.
*Status post CABG with patent LIMA to LAD and 2 patent left sided
aortocoronary bypass grafts.
*Aortic valve thickening and calcification, compatible with known aortic
valve stenosis. Please see separate report for preprocedural TAVR
measurements.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Surgical prior auth

I am needing help with a surgery getting denied by their insurance. Patient was admitted thru the er. The hospital staff prior authorized the inpatient stay but did not get one for any surgeries, with the insurance company with a diagnosis of back pain. The patient went on to have spine surgery during this stay. The insurance has paid the hospital including the operative charges, even our assistant surgery charges ( assistant surgeon does not need a p.a.) but they have denied our primary surgeon charges. Any suggestions to get this corrected? By the time it gets to our office to bill it out the patient is usually already home & recovering from surgery?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Skip Prior Authorization for These 4 HCPCS Codes

Effective April 30, four HCPCS Level II codes for certain durable medical equipment (DME) will no longer require prior authorization. If your medical office or facility sells or rents DME, it’s time to update your list. Master List Agenda The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule in the March 30 Federal Register to […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Coding mother’s record with delivery prior to arrival

I am needing help please with how to code this with the ICD CM codes. The patient delivered in ambulance prior to arrival at the hospital. When the patient arrived at the hospital the provider repaired the patient’s lacerations and delivered the placenta. I know there is a code for encounter for immediate postpartum care. I am not sure do I use this with the ICD 10 CM codes for the lacerations? But when I code the lacerations it is asking that I code outcome of delivery and the weeks of pregnancy. So I am not sure exactly what to code for the mother’s record?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

bone density test prior to treatment for breast cancer

Our oncologist likes a bone density prior to starting therapy for breast cancer. It is recommended on the NCCN guidelines to get a baseline bone density test before starting an aromatase inhibitor and periodically thereafter. What diagnosis code would we use for this particular bone density – Would it be a screening or is there something else because of the breast neoplasm? thank you in advance.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Baseline Lab testing diagnoses codes prior to starting a biologic drug?

Hello All,
I am fairly new to Dermatology coding. We do a lot of treatment and prescribing of biologics for psoriasis. These are powerful drugs that can affect the organ systems negatively; therefore baseline laboratory tests are required prior to starting the patient on these medications. AFTER the patient has been on these meds, we continue to run lab tests to monitor if/how these medications are affecting the organ systems. Z79.899 usually works for monitoring (there are a few NCD/LCDs that do not cover with this code), but I’m wondering what ICD-10 code should be used for the initial baseline lab testing? We are not monitoring the patient’s response to the medicine since they aren’t on it yet, but simply getting a baseline. Many of these lab tests have NCDs and we’re having trouble finding appropriate diagnosis codes? Thoughts anyone?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum