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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

Check Out These Changes to Outpatient CAR-T Coding

Billing updates aim to help physician offices get paid for CAR T-cell therapy. The latest round of updates to HCPCS Level II coding clarifies outpatient billing requirements for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, an often curative treatment that uses a patient’s own genetically modified immune cells to fight cancer. The key takeaway is that […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Don’t Overlook These New PLA Codes

A quarterly update for the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), issued May 4, includes nine new CPT® codes for proprietary laboratory analyses (PLAs). Medical coding and billing staff that process claims for lab testing should be aware of these codes and pricing. 9 New PLA Codes The following PLA (type of service 5) codes are […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Add These OIG Watch Items to Your Audit List

The government is keeping a close eye on how you are coding claims. Are you? The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is updating its Work Plan this month with new watch items that pertain to Medicare. At press time, there were five additional items the OIG intends to pursue in 2020. OIG Work Plan items […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Follow These Three Steps to Host Virtual Meetings

In the August Officer News we encouraged officers to host virtual meetings as part of the six required education events sponsored. We want to remind you again of the three steps to follow: Step 1 – Email [email protected] to reserve a date for the virtual meeting. Include: The name of the chapter The name of […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Still confused on some of these… Please help Peripheral Coding

Coronary Angiogram and Intervention Report
Date of procedure: 12/20/18

Pre- op Ox: CAD, CCS II chest pain, Abnormal stress test
Post-op Ox: Coronary artery disease

Procedures:
1. Selective left coronary angiography
2. Laser arthrectomy of the proximal and mid left anterior descending artery for 70-80% in-stent restenosis.
Pre procedure 70-80% in-stent restenosis with TIMI 3 flow. Post procedure less th an 50% in-stent restenosis with TIMI 3 flow.
3. Stenting of the proximal left anterior descending
artery for 80% disease with a 3.0 x 12 mm drug-eluting stent Onyx; pre procedure and 80% diseaseTIMI-3 flow.
Post procedure 0% disease with TIMl-3 flow
4. Angioplasty of the mid 70% occluded left anterior descending artery with a 2.25 x 12 mm balloon; pre procedure 70% disease TIMI- 3 flo w. Post procedure less than 50% disease TIMl-3 flow

Anesthesia: Lidocaine 2%

Access Site: Right femoral artery 6 French

Findings:
LMCA · mild disease
LCX · 60· 70 % m id left circumflex artery OMl · mild to moderate disease
LAD • 80% proximal disease prior to stent; 70-80% in-stent restenosis of the proximal-mid left anterior descending artery stent; 70% disease post stent
Dl – moderate disease

Procedure in detail :
The patient was brought to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab in a fasting state. All appropriate labs had been reviewed.
Bilateral groins were prepped and draped in the usual fashion for sterile conditions. The appropriate time-out procedure was performed with appropriate identification of the patient, procedure, physician, position and documentation all done under my direct supervision and there were no safety issues raised by the staff.

Right groin was anesthetized with lidocaine and a 6-French sheath was put into place percutaneously via guide-wire exchanger using ultrasound guidance and a micro puncture access kit. All catheters were passed using a Hipped guide* wire. Left system coronary angiography performed using a 6-French EBU3.5 catheter.

Intervention:
A 6 French EBU 3-1/2 guide was used to engage the left system. Once engaged, a run- through wire was placed distally down the left anterior descending artery. The laser catheter was then placed over the run-through wire and attempted to place inside the in-stent restenosis. Multiple attempts were made and the catheter was unable to enter the stent. The wire was pulled back and re-placed inside the stent as there was a concern that the wire may have gone behind the stent. The laser catheter was still unable to be advanced into the stent. A smaller laser catheter was exchanged and still unsuccessful in going inside the stent. After multiple attempts, the laser catheter was finally able to enter the stent and multiple runs were made. Post arthrectomy with laser, an angiogram was done showing less than 50% disease inside the stent. The laser catheter was removed and a 3.0 x 12 mm balloon was used to dilate the in-stent restenosis. Multiple different balloons were used without much improvement.
Given the inability to use the larger laser catheter, the
decision was made to leave the in-stent restenosis as it
is given TIMI -3 flow and less than 50% disease. The laser catheter was removed and an angiogram was done showing no perforations or dissections TIMI 3 flow. A 2.25 x 12 balloon was placed distally to the stent where there was 70%>
stenosis and that area was angioplastied. Post
Angioplasty, there appear to be less than 50% disease and no perforations or dissections TIMI 3 flow. The proximal portion prior to the stent in the LAD appeared to be significantly diseased and a 3.0 x 12 mm drug -eluting stent Onyx was placed. Post stenting, an angiogram was done showing no perforations or dissections and TIMI-3 flow. Heparin given during the entire procedure.

Closure Device: None

EBL: Less than 20 ml Complications: None Lines: None

Specimens: None Condition: Stable

Finding s:
Status post arthrectomy of the proximal to mid left anterior descending artery in-stent restenosis
Angioplasty of the mid left anterior descending artery after the stent
Stenting of the proximal left anterior descending artery with a
3.0 x 12 mm drug-eluting stent Onyx

Recommendation:
Continue with aspirin, Plavix, Lipitor therapy
Consider stage PC! for patients left circumflex artery as an outpatient

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Prepare Now for These Mid-Year CPT Code Updates

In addition to the annual release of CPT® code changes, the American Medical Association (AMA) likes to keep medical coders on their toes by releasing mid-year changes. The following Vaccine codes and Category III codes were accepted and/or revised at the September 2018 CPT Editorial Panel meeting for the 2020 CPT® production cycle. These codes […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Your Chapter Can Be Successful if you Follow These Steps

Step #1 – Hold an officers’ meeting: Get acquainted with one another. The most successful chapters have leaders who work as a team and communicate openly. Together, review the responsibilities and general expectations of each officer as outlined in the 2019 Local Chapter Handbook. Allow each person to fulfill his or her respective role. Respect […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Keep These ICD-10 Codes Handy for Holiday Mishaps

Besides being a time for giving and promoting peace on earth, December is the month of holiday preparation, gathering with loved ones, and celebrating. With so many festivities and too much holiday hustle and bustle, accidents happen. here are some ICD-10 codes you may see this season. Christmas Preparation Accidents These codes are useful if you fall while […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Can someone please help me with these coding questions

I am practicing some coding questions before my exam and would like some help with an ICD-10 CM question and CPT questions. From what I remember, if there is a definitive diagnosis there is no need to code signs and symptoms, but in some questions, the answer includes signs and symptoms even though there is a diagnosis.

I am confused as to why fever is coded in this question, can someone please explain?

Patient with thyroid cancer has fever and found to have chemo drug induced agranulocyctosis

D72.0: Genetic anomalies of leukocytes
D70.1: Agranulocytosis secondary to cancer chemotherapy
C73: Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland
R50.81: Fever presenting with conditions classified elsewhere
J34.81 Nasal mucositis (ulcerative
K92. 81: Gastrointestinal mucositis (ulcerative)
T36.91XA: Poisoning by unspecified systemic antibiotic, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
T45.1X1A: Poisoning by antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drugs, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter

a) D72.0, T36.91XA, C73, R50.81
b) D70.1, T45.1X1A, C73
c) R50.81, J43. 81, K92.81
d)D70.1, T45.1X5A, C73, R50.81

Can someone please explain how to get these codes for this example?

Case 1 – Right transfemoral approach with the right vertebral, right common carotid artery, left common carotid artery, left vertebral arteries selected with normal arch anatomy.

Catheter codes: 36217, 36218, 36215-59, 36216-59

A 40-year old hospitalized patient is in need of a kidney transplant and is next on the transplant list. A man who matches the patient’s tissue type and is an organ donor, is involved in an MVA and is pronounced brain dead upon arrival to the hospital. A nephrectomy is performed on the individual from the mVA. what is the correct code for the nephrectomy?

a) 50300
b) 50320
c) 50220
d) 50234

Why is the answer b?

Thanks so much for your help!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum