Free CPC Practice Questions
Five original questions with explanations
These are original educational questions written to exercise CPC-relevant reasoning. They are not recalled examination items and do not imply access to confidential test content.
Question 1
The documentation supports a service, but the selected diagnosis code is more specific than the documented condition. What is the best action?
- A. Use the more specific code anyway
- B. Query or code only to the documented level of specificity
- C. Delete the claim
- D. Choose an unrelated symptom
Answer and explanation
B. Query or code only to the documented level of specificity Codes must be supported by documentation; specificity cannot be inferred without support.
Question 2
Which source should be checked after locating a diagnosis in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index?
- A. The Tabular List
- B. A payer advertisement
- C. The CPT index
- D. A charge ticket only
Answer and explanation
A. The Tabular List The Tabular List must be used to verify the code and apply instructional notes.
Question 3
A procedure note omits information needed to select between two CPT codes. What should the coder do?
- A. Guess based on the fee
- B. Query the provider according to compliant policy
- C. Always choose the higher code
- D. Use both codes
Answer and explanation
B. Query the provider according to compliant policy A compliant query resolves documentation ambiguity without inventing facts.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of an NCCI edit review?
- A. Determine patient eligibility
- B. Identify code pairs that generally should not be reported together
- C. Assign diagnosis laterality
- D. Set the provider’s fee schedule
Answer and explanation
B. Identify code pairs that generally should not be reported together NCCI edits address improper code combinations and circumstances in which a modifier may or may not be appropriate.
Question 5
When documentation and a code descriptor conflict, which controls code assignment?
- A. The highest reimbursement
- B. The documented service matched to current coding rules
- C. A prior patient’s claim
- D. An unofficial forum
Answer and explanation
B. The documented service matched to current coding rules Code assignment must reflect the documented service and current authoritative coding guidance.
How to Review
For every miss, identify the domain, explain the controlling principle, and state why each distractor is less appropriate. Then return to the official outline and your content review.