Free Practice Questions for AAPC CPC Exam

The injection into the trochanteric bursa under ultrasonic guidance is coded with CPT® 20611, which describes an injection of a major joint or bursa with ultrasound guidance. The modifier -LT indicates the procedure was performed on the left side.

99223 = Initial hospital/observation care with high time (75+ min) or high MDM

Prolonged service 99418 is bundled into observation services

1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:

The patient underwent a partial nephrectomy (removal of part of the left kidney) via a laparoscopic approach.

CPT® Code 50543 is specifically used for a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, which is an accurate description of this procedure.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Code 50548 is used for a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, which involves the complete removal of the kidney and surrounding structures; therefore, it does not apply to this partial nephrectomy.

Code 50220 represents an open partial nephrectomy, not a laparoscopic approach, and is therefore incorrect for this procedure.

Code 50546 is for a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with bilateral removal of kidneys, which is not applicable in this case where only a partial removal of the left kidney was performed.

3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:

AAPC and CPT® guidelines indicate that the use of 50543 is appropriate for any laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, regardless of the laterality, and it specifically identifies laparoscopic technique over open surgery.

Therefore, based on CPT® guidelines, the correct answer is C. 50543.

For the injections, CPT® code 64642 is used for chemodenervation of one extremity; 64643 for each additional extremity, and 64647 for chemodenervation of muscles in the paraspinal region. The modifier -50 is added to 64642 and 64643 to indicate bilateral procedures. According to CPT® guidelines, when multiple sites are treated, each site is coded separately, and appropriate modifiers are used.

AMA ' s CPT® Professional Edition (current year), Surgery section, Nervous System.

For professional claims,Place of Service (POS) 12is used to indicate services performed in the patient’shome/private residence. This is a high-frequency reimbursement concept because POS impacts payer processing, fee schedules, and in some cases whether certain services are payable. POS codes like 41 and 42 are not used for a private home setting:41is typically associated withambulance—land, and42withambulance—air or water(transport settings rather than a location of patient residence). POS 65 refers to a specific facility-type setting (commonly associated withend-stage renal disease treatment facilities) and is not a home. On CPC-style questions, the key is recognizing that “private residence” equalshome—not assisted living, skilled nursing, or a facility. Correct POS reporting supports medical necessity review and correct payment and helps prevent denials, recoupments, and compliance risk. When documentation states the service occurred at the patient’s residence, POS 12 is the standard selection.

This question is testing recognition of amaxillofacial prosthetic servicerather than an ophthalmology procedure code. The vignette describesfabrication of a prosthesis using silicone materialswithmodificationsintended to restorecosmetic appearanceafter loss/damage of an eye. Among the provided options,21086is the CPT code that corresponds to fabrication of afacial prosthesis(commonly silicone-based) with the intent of external restoration. The other codes in this small cluster represent different facial/craniofacial repair or prosthetic services and do not match silicone prosthesis fabrication described in the scenario. CPC exam technique: focus on the key nouns—“fabricates a prosthesis,” “silicon materials,” “cosmetic appearance restoration”—which point away from repair codes and towardprosthetic fabrication. Also note the question is not about insertion of an ocular implant during enucleation/evisceration, but about crafting an external prosthetic device. Therefore, the correct selection is21086.

Omalizumab is a drug reported withHCPCS J2357, and the dose is converted into billable units based on the code’s unit definition. In CPC-style questions,150 mgis commonly represented asJ2357 × 30 units(i.e., 5 mg per unit → 150/5 = 30). Administration is atherapeutic subcutaneous injection, reported with96372(therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection; subcutaneous or intramuscular). Vaccine administration codes (90460/90471) are not appropriate because omalizumab is not a vaccine. For diagnosis, the statement includesstatus asthmaticusbut does not specify severity category (mild/moderate/severe persistent). In the options provided,J45.902is the “unspecified asthma with status asthmaticus” concept, whereas J45.52 requires severe persistent asthma with status asthmaticus (not documented). Therefore, the correct pairing is96372 + J2357 × 30 + J45.902. CPC exam tip: match administration code type (therapeutic injection vs immunization) and choose the most specific ICD-10-CM supported by documentation.

CPT code 99385 is used for initial comprehensive preventive medicine evaluation and management of an individual, including a detailed history and examination, and anticipatory guidance. Since additional documentation and treatment for non-inflamed lesions are provided, an additional E/M service code 99203 with modifier -25 (significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day) is appropriate to indicate both services were rendered. References: CPT® Professional Edition (current year), AMA.

This is arepeatdecompression at apreviously operatedlumbar level, described as “repeat exploration laminotomy,” which aligns with there-explorationcode family rather than a primary discectomy code. The procedure includesbilateral foraminotomyat a single lumbar interspace (L1–L2), meaning it is performed onboth sidesat the same level. In the answer choices,63042represents re-exploration/decompression (repeat procedure) and is appropriately markedbilateralwith-50. The foraminotomy component at the lumbar level is represented by63044, also performed bilaterally, so63044-50is appropriate when the code is unilateral by descriptor and the work was done on both sides. Options C and D reference63030/63035, which are associated with lumbar discectomy/decompression primary coding patterns, not the “repeat exploration laminotomy” scenario presented. Option A incorrectly lists 63044 twice rather than using bilateral reporting. Therefore,63042-50, 63044-50is the best match within the provided options.

33016 = Pericardiocentesis, including imaging guidance (e.g., ultrasound) when performed.Because the code already includes imaging guidance, you do not separately report 76942.So the correct coding is 33016 only → B.