The CPC Exam is one of the most feared terms in the dictionary of a medical coding student. It is a challenge for some, cause of panic for few especially if they are not well prepared and yet for many it is just a process that can help them move forward as their preparations and merit get evaluated and certified. Certified Professional Coder (CPC) examination is quite a tough paper without proper preparation, and amongst the medical coding students, they often find it quite essential to practice CPC exam questions before sitting for the actual paper.
CPC and some facts: No one can be completely prepared for an exam, but they can give their all during exam preparation and do their best during the exam. During the preparation phase, finding the courses and sample questions and completing them in the allotted time is very much needed. There are many institutes who provide the medical billing and coding courses online. They also provide assistance for the preparation of the CPC exam practice test.
The idea there is not only to practice the CPC exam questions but also having an expert guide that helps in gathering detailed knowledge, and giving the full rationale answers and reference to the textbook. As the CPC exam is an open book exam, it is essential that every medical coder knows where to flip through the medical code book. The CPC exam practice test helps the students to practice the questions as if in the real exam, within the stipulated time of five and a half hours. This makes them not only certified but also gain recognition as they read the medical charts and assign the correct diagnosis and procedures more precisely.
Online Medical Coding Course And The Facilities:
The medical billing and coding courses online have its own share of advantages. These can be done at any own convenience from the comforts of the home. Laureen Jandroep has developed a Medical Coding Certification Review Blitz Videos for this purpose, which is available both online in video format, plus she also ships a physical copy of the videos in DVD format right to your home. The wonderful thing about these CPC Review Blitz Videos are that they are very affordable and genuinely helpful in your exam preparation, and even helps in your day to day work as a medical coder after you’re certified. These videos along come along with a detailed guide on the CPC Exam, which is an exhaustive review of all the various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures covered in the exam. These medical billing and coding courses online helps to get in touch with the experts such as Laureen Jandroep who demonstrate her proprietary study techniques such as the bubbling and highlighting technique and also teaches you how to make best use of the examination time allowed.
The video blitz reviews and the CPC exam practice test are exhaustive in nature and hence cover for every therapeutic and diagnostic procedure which form part of the exam syllabus. It also covers the physician based medical coding procedures, medical terminology and anatomy courses. When the students practice the CPC exam questions, it helps them in understanding the time allocation also. It is important because though some may say five and half hours is lot of time for an open book exam, in reality it actually feels otherwise. Hence, rather than feeling disheartened and scared for the exam, it is better to begin thorough preparation with the help of all the guides available online. Staying focussed and remembering the tips of the experts of the medical billing and coding courses online holds the key to cracking the exam at your first try.
By: Katherine Dawson, Certified Professional Coder
Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at http://www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org
We specialize in preparing students for the AAPC CPC Medical Coding Exam and also the AHIMA CCS-P exam.
We also have a CPC Practice Exam Package With Full Study Guide which is very popular because it simulates the 150 Questions in the actual CPC Exam, and we also provide the answer keys and full rationale for each and every question. It even refers you back to the relevant part of your textbook. To get a copy of this sample CPC practice test paper, you can visit http://www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org/cpcpracticeexam
You're most welcome to visit http://www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org/cpc-exam-prep to practice CPC exam questions and to learn more about our proven and effective medical coding exam preparation & studying techniques.
Sample CPC Exam Question 2: Musculoskeletal
OPERATIVE NOTE
PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: myelopathy secondary to very large disc herniations at C4-C5 and C5-C6.
POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: myelopathy secondary to very large disc herniations at C4-C5 and C5-C6.
PROCEDURE PERFORMED:
1. Anterior discectomy, C5-C6
2. Arthrodesis, C5-C6
3. Partial corpectomy, C5
4. Machine bone allograft, C5-C6
5. Placement of anterior plate with a Zephyr C6
ANESTHESIA: General
ESTIMATED BLOOD LOSS: 60 mL
COMPLICATIONS: None
INDICATIONS: This is a patient who presents with progressive weakness in the left upper extremity as well as imbalance. He has a very large disc herniation that came behind the body at C5 as well and as well as a large disc herniation at C5-C6. Risks and benefits of the surgery including bleeding, infection, neurologic deficit, nonunion, progressive spondylosis, and lack of improvement were all discussed. He understood and wished to proceed.
DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE:
The patient was brought to the operating room and placed in the supine position. Preoperative antibiotics were given. The patient was placed in the supine position with all pressure points noted and well padded. The patient was prepped and draped in standard fashion. An incision was made approximately above the level of the cricoid. Blunt dissection was used to expose the anterior portion of the spine with carotid moved laterally and trachea and esophagus moved medially. I then placed needle into the disc spaces and was found to be at C5-C6. Distracting pins were placed in the body of C6. The disc was then completely removed at C5-C6. There was very significant compression of the cord. This was carefully removed to avoid any type of pressure on the cord. This was very severe and multiple free fragments noted. This was taken down to the level of ligamentum. Both foramen were then also opened. Part of the body of C5 was taken down to assure that all fragments were removed and that there was no additional constriction. The nerve root was then widely decompressed. Machine bone allograft was placed into C5-C6 and then a Zephyr plate was placed in the body C6 with a metal pin placed into the body at C5. Excellent purchase was obtained. Fluoroscopy showed good placement and meticulous hemostasis was obtained. Fascia was closed with 3-0 Vicryl, subcuticular 3-0 Dermabond for skin. The patient tolerated the procedure well and went to recovery in good condition.
a. 22554, 63081, 63082, 20931, 22845
b. 22551, 63081, 20931, 22840
c. 22551, 63081, 63082, 20931, 22845
d. 22554, 63081, 20931, 22840
Rational:
Answer: A
Per. Paul Cadorette and the American Medical Association article titles, "Coding Guidance for Anterior Cervical Arthrodesis", "When a spinal fusion (arthrodesis) is performed, the first thing a coder needs to recognize is the approach or technique that was utilized. With an anterior (front body approach)to cervical fusion the incision will be made in the patient's neck, so the key terms to look for are platysma, esophagus, carotid, and sternocleidomastoid. These structures will be divided and/or protected during dissection down the vertebral body. After dissection, the procedure can proceed on one of three ways:
1) When the interspace is prepared (minimal discectomy, perforation of endplates) then 22554 would be reported.
2) When a discectomy is performed to decompress the spinal cord and/or nerve root(s) report 22554 for the arthrodesis along with 63075 for the discectomy procedure.
3) When a partial corpectomy (vertebral body resection) is performed at C5 and C6 report CPT code 22554 for the arthrodesis with 63081 and 63082. Two codes are reported because the corpectomy procedure is performed on two vertebral segments (C5 and C6). CPT codes 63081-63091 include a discectomy above and/or below the vertebral segment, so code 63075 (discectomy) would not be reported if performed at the C5-C6 interspace.
Once the decompression procedure has been completed, a PEEK cage can be placed within the interspace or a structural bone graft can be fashioned to fit the vertebral defect created by the previous corpectomy. Insertion of the PEEK cage would be reported with a biomechanical device code 22851. This code is only reported one time per level even if two cages are placed at C5-C6. When a structural bone graft is used, determine whether it is an allograft (20931)) or an autograft (20938). The bone graft codes are only reported one time per procedure and not once for each level. Finally, the physician will place an anterior plate with screws (22845) across the C5-C6 interspace to stabilize the area fusion".
Some guidance on coding such procedures can also be located in the Spine (vertebral column) coding guidelines (above code 22010).
Learn more of these CPC exam questions with full answers and explanation at www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org/cpcpracticeexam
By: Katherine Dawson, Certified Professional Coder
Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at http://www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org
We specialize in preparing students for the AAPC CPC Medical Coding Exam and also the AHIMA CCS-P exam.
We also have a CPC Practice Exam Package With Full Study Guide which is very popular because it simulates the 150 Questions in the actual CPC Exam, and we also provide the answer keys and full rationale for each and every question. It even refers you back to the relevant part of your textbook. To get a copy of this sample CPC practice test paper, you can visit http://www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org/cpcpracticeexam
You're most welcome to visit http://www.cpcmedicalcodingcertificationexamprep.org/cpc-exam-prep to practice CPC exam questions and to learn more about our proven and effective medical coding exam preparation & studying techniques.
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