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

United Healthcare Commercial Reimbursement Policy Updates effective from Sep 1st, 2019


The modifier “GN, GO or GP” will be required on Always for “Therapy codes” to align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

According to CMS, certain codes are “Always Therapy” services regardless of who performs them, and always require a therapy modifier — GP, GO or GN — to indicate that they are provided under a physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech language pathology plan of care

“Always Therapy” modifiers are necessary to enable accurate reimbursement for each distinct type of therapy in accordance with member group benefits

Reference: UHC Modifier Updates


Coding Ahead

ASP Drug Pricing Updates for July 2019


The Center’s for  Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just released the updated 2019 ASP drug pricing files for July. These files contain the payment amounts to be used to pay for Part B covered drugs in the third quarter. Updated July 2019 payment limits are also available; effective July 1, 2019, through September 30, 2019.

Comparing the new third quarter 2019 payment amounts with the prior quarter reveals that payment amounts for the top 50 Part B drugs increased by an average of 0.6 %. Local Medicare contractors will determine any Medicare Part B payment limits for valid HCPCS codes not included in the quarterly ASP pricing files.

The payment allowance limits subject to the ASP new codes include the following

ASP July 2019 Code Changes


Coding Ahead

CMS Updates TAVR National Coverage Policy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced, June 21, a final decision to update the national coverage policy for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for aortic stenosis. It has been seven years since the original national coverage determination (NCD) went into effect. The update was necessary to account for the continued development of […]

The post CMS Updates TAVR National Coverage Policy appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

Hospitals Get a Preview of 2020 Payment Updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on April 23 proposed policy changes and rates for the 2020 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS). The proposed payment updates for 2020 are: 2.7% for hospitals that submit quality data and are meaningful EHR users 0.3% for […]

The post Hospitals Get a Preview of 2020 Payment Updates appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

E&m documentaiton updates 2019

In reference to "required elements" below, is that the 3 KEY components (History, exam, and MDM)? Or just the history and exam?

For established patient office/outpatient visits, when relevant information is already contained in the medical record, providers may choose to focus their documentation on what has changed since the last visit, or on pertinent items that have not changed, and need not re-record the defined list of required elements if there is evidence that the practitioner reviewed the previous information and updated it as needed. Practitioners should still review prior data, update as necessary

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Annual Checkup: Medicare Policies for Code Updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released, Feb. 1, maintenance updates for several National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) to reflect recent code changes (CR11134). Every year, when ICD-10, CPT®, and HCPCS Level II codes are updated, NCDs (and Local Coverage Determinations) must also be updated. When this occurs, it’s essential for providers to review […]

The post Annual Checkup: Medicare Policies for Code Updates appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

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 […]

The post Prepare Now for These Mid-Year CPT Code Updates appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

Joint Commission updates anticoagulant NPSG

The Joint Commission (TJC) announced revisions to its anticoagulant therapy National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) December 7. NPSG 03.05.01 has eight new or revised elements of performance (EP).
All the changes are listed in R3 Report 19 and will take effect July 1, 2019.

HCPro.com – Briefings on Accreditation and Quality