In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, coding accuracy is crucial for proper patient care and reimbursement.
This comprehensive resource features 70 certified inpatient coder exam practice questions, meticulously crafted to enhance your coding skills and knowledge.
AdvertisementEach question comes complete with answers, allowing you to test your understanding of vital coding principles and guidelines.
Prepare to boost your confidence and proficiency as you embark on your coding certification journey.
70 Certified Inpatient Coder Exam Practice Questions with Answers
Question 1
A patient is admitted for pneumonia. What is the appropriate ICD-10-CM code?
A) J18.9 (Correct Answer)
B) J20.9
C) J22
D) J12.9
Question 2
Which type of documentation is essential for coding principal diagnosis?
A) Discharge summary
B) H&P (History and Physical) (Correct Answer)
C) Progress notes
D) Operative report
Question 3
A patient with type 2 diabetes presents with ketoacidosis. The appropriate code is:
A) E11.1 (Correct Answer)
B) E10.1
C) E11.9
D) E10.9
Question 4
When coding surgical procedures, what modifier is used to indicate that an additional procedure was performed during the same session?
A) -77
B) -51 (Correct Answer)
C) -59
D) -76
Question 5
A patient is admitted with heart failure and has a history of hypertension. What is the principal diagnosis?
A) Heart failure (Correct Answer)
B) Hypertension
C) Congestive heart failure
D) Dehydration
Question 6
Which of the following codes is used for a complex laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
A) 47562
B) 47563 (Correct Answer)
C) 47560
D) 47564
Question 7
What coding system is primarily utilized for outpatient services?
A) ICD-10-CM
B) CPT (Correct Answer)
C) HCPCS Level II
D) All of the above
Question 8
A patient is diagnosed with essential hypertension. The correct ICD-10-CM code is:
A) I10 (Correct Answer)
B) I11.9
C) I12.9
D) I13.0
Question 9
What is the main purpose of the DRG system?
A) To classify diagnoses
B) To determine hospital payment (Correct Answer)
C) To guide treatment plans
D) To track patient outcomes
Question 10
A 65-year-old male presents with recurrent urinary tract infections due to benign prostatic hypertrophy. What is the correct code?
A) N40.0 (Correct Answer)
B) N39.0
C) N41.9
D) N35.9
Question 11
What does the modifier -22 indicate?
A) Increased procedural services (Correct Answer)
B) Bilateral procedure
C) Discontinued procedure
D) Separate procedure
Question 12
When coding an inpatient stay, at what point must the principal diagnosis be determined?
A) Upon discharge
B) After review of all documentation
C) At time of admission (Correct Answer)
D) During follow-up
Question 13
A patient undergoes a total hip replacement. What is the appropriate ICD-10-PCS code?
A) 0SRD0JZ (Correct Answer)
B) 0SRD0KZ
C) 0SRD0MZ
D) 0SRD0HZ
Question 14
Which of the following represents a complication of care?
A) Nausea due to medication
B) Pneumonia following surgery (Correct Answer)
C) Postoperative pain
D) All of the above
Question 15
Which modifier would you use for a professional service that was performed on a different day than the procedure?
A) -76
B) -51
C) -59 (Correct Answer)
D) -25
Question 16
In which situation would a Z code be appropriate?
A) To report a disease
B) To report a family history
C) To report a routine examination
D) All of the above (Correct Answer)
Question 17
What is the coding convention for “unspecified” in ICD-10-CM?
A) It indicates a more detailed diagnosis exists.
B) It should only be used when no information is available. (Correct Answer)
C) It is always the first choice in coding.
D) It is not allowed in coding.
Question 18
A patient has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which exacerbated. What is the appropriate code?
A) J44.9
B) J44.1 (Correct Answer)
C) J44.0
D) J42
Question 19
What does the modifier -50 signify?
A) Multiple procedures
B) Bilateral procedure (Correct Answer)
C) Discontinued procedure
D) Increased procedural services
Question 20
If a patient is admitted for a surgical procedure but develops complications requiring additional surgery, how should this be coded?
A) Only the principal procedure
B) Only the additional surgery
C) Both procedures (Correct Answer)
D) The principal diagnosis only
Question 21
For a bilateral procedure performed on both sides at the same time, which modifier should be used?
A) -59
B) -51
C) -50 (Correct Answer)
D) -25
Question 22
A patient is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The ICD-10-CM code is:
A) I48.0
B) I48.1
C) I48.91 (Correct Answer)
D) I48.2
Question 23
A laparoscopic appendectomy is performed. What is the correct CPT code?
A) 44970 (Correct Answer)
B) 44960
C) 44955
D) 44940
Question 24
In which scenario would a J code be primarily used?
A) Surgical procedures
B) Medications (Correct Answer)
C) Complications of care
D) Diagnostic imaging
Question 25
If a patient has a history of colon cancer but is now in remission, which code would you use to indicate the history?
A) Z85.038 (Correct Answer)
B) C18.9
C) C20
D) Z85.048
Question 26
What is the primary use of HCPCS Level II codes?
A) Surgical procedures
B) Non-physician services and supplies (Correct Answer)
C) Hospital inpatient services
D) Physician billing
Question 27
A patient diagnosed with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. What is the ICD-10-CM code?
A) E11.40 (Correct Answer)
B) E10.40
C) E11.9
D) E10.9
Question 28
A patient presents with a broken leg after an accident. Which ICD-10-CM code is correct?
A) S82.001A (Correct Answer)
B) S82.002A
C) S82.009A
D) S82.00XA
Question 29
If a patient is diagnosed with both hypertension and heart failure, which condition is usually coded as the principal diagnosis?
A) Heart failure (Correct Answer)
B) Hypertension
C) Both equally
D) Neither
Question 30
What does the modifier -24 indicate?
A) Increased procedural services
B) Bilateral procedure
C) Unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician during a postoperative period (Correct Answer)
D) Separate procedure
Question 31
A patient is admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding. What is the assumed principal diagnosis until further workup is done?
A) Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (Correct Answer)
B) Anemia
C) Peptic ulcer
D) Esophageal varices
Question 32
When coding a watchful waiting approach for a specific diagnosis, which type of code would you typically use?
A) Z code (Correct Answer)
B) E code
C) A code
D) I code
Question 33
A patient admitted for an endoscopic procedure requiring multiple biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract is coded for which main procedure?
A) Endoscopy only
B) Biopsies only
C) Both endoscopy and biopsies combined (Correct Answer)
D) Neither
Question 34
What does the ICD-10 code Z91.81 indicate?
A) Personal history of overdose
B) Personal history of falls
C) Personal history of noncompliance with medication (Correct Answer)
D) Personal history of smoking
Question 35
Which modifier indicates that a procedure was performed on both sides of the body?
A) -76
B) -51
C) -50 (Correct Answer)
D) -25
Question 36
A patient has congestive heart failure due to ischemic heart disease. The correct ICD-10-CM code is:
A) I50.9
B) I50.1 (Correct Answer)
C) I25.5
D) I11.0
Question 37
A patient is admitted for observation following a head injury. What is the appropriate code?
A) S06.9X0A (Correct Answer)
B) S06.9X0S
C) S06.9X0D
D) S06.9X0X
Question 38
In the case of a surgical complications requiring additional procedures, how should each procedure be coded?
A) Only the complication procedure
B) Each procedure separately (Correct Answer)
C) The principal procedure
D) Not coded if related to the same diagnosis
Question 39
Which code is used when a patient has stage I pressure ulcer?
A) L89.91
B) L89.12
C) L89.0
D) L89.10 (Correct Answer)
Question 40
What ICD-10-CM code is used for an inhalation injury?
A) T20.5XXA (Correct Answer)
B) T20.9XXA
C) T20.4XXA
D) T20.3XXA
Question 41
For coding mental health disorders, which classification system is primarily used?
A) ICD-10-CM (Correct Answer)
B) CPT
C) HCPCS Level II
D) DRG
Question 42
If a physician performs a diagnostic imaging procedure and finds a mass, how should this be documented?
A) With a code for only the imaging
B) With a code for mass only
C) Both the imaging and findings should be coded (Correct Answer)
D) Neither should be coded
Question 43
What modifier should be used for a repeated procedure during the same encounter?
A) -50
B) -76
C) -77 (Correct Answer)
D) -59
Question 44
A patient is being treated for a benign neoplasm of the colon. The ICD-10-CM code is:
A) D12.9
B) D12.0
C) D12.2 (Correct Answer)
D) D12.1
Question 45
When coding for skin lesions, what does the term “benign” suggest?
A) Cancerous and serious
B) Non-cancerous and usually no treatment required (Correct Answer)
C) Requires surgical intervention
D) Life-threatening
Question 46
A person with a personal history of tobacco use is coded with:
A) Z87.891
B) Z77.22
C) Z87.891 (Correct Answer)
D) Z87.21
Question 47
What modifier is used in outpatient coding to denote a return visit for the same problem?
A) -50
B) -76
C) -25 (Correct Answer)
D) -59
Question 48
When a patient has an osteoporotic fracture, the appropriate ICD-10-CM code is:
A) M80.00XA
B) M80.00XD (Correct Answer)
C) M80.00XG
D) M80.00XE
Question 49
If a provider performs a procedure on a patient who is not in a medically acceptable state, how should this be documented?
A) Only note the procedure
B) Document the patient’s status and the impact on care (Correct Answer)
C) No documentation is necessary
D) Use a vague coding convention
Question 50
In ICD-10-CM, what does the code F32.0 signify?
A) Major depressive disorder, recurrent episode
B) Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild (Correct Answer)
C) Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
D) Major depressive disorder, chronic
Question 51
When coding an infection related to a complication of surgery, what should the primary diagnosis be?
A) Infection only
B) Surgical complication only
C) Both infection and surgical complication (Correct Answer)
D) Neither should be coded
Question 52
A patient has a stroke due to hypertension. What is the correct coding?
A) I63.9 (Correct Answer)
B) I63.8
C) I61.9
D) I70.9
Question 53
An inpatient has an acute exacerbation of asthma. Which code applies?
A) J45.901 (Correct Answer)
B) J45.909
C) J45.20
D) J45.9010
Question 54
If a patient has an unstageable pressure ulcer, the code would be:
A) L89.10
B) L89.11 (Correct Answer)
C) L89.12
D) L89.9
Question 55
What modifier indicates a professional service that is not related to a global surgical package?
A) -24 (Correct Answer)
B) -25
C) -50
D) -76
Question 56
When coding for total joint replacements, you would generally use which type of code?
A) ICD-10-CM
B) ICD-10-PCS (Correct Answer)
C) CPT
D) DRG
Question 57
What code would be used for an accidental poisoning by a drug?
A) T43.3X1A (Correct Answer)
B) T40.2X1A
C) T43.2X1A
D) T40.1X1A
Question 58
A patient is diagnosed with an unspecified type of headache. What is the code?
A) G44.1
B) R51 (Correct Answer)
C) G44.409
D) G43.909
Question 59
When should coding guidelines be reviewed for changes?
A) Every year
B) Every month
C) Every quarter
D) As needed and when new guidelines are published (Correct Answer)
Question 60
A patient has a diagnosis of lymphedema. The ICD-10-CM code is:
A) I89.0 (Correct Answer)
B) I80.9
C) I80.1
D) I87.2
Question 61
What does the modifier -51 signify?
A) Increased procedural services
B) Unrelated surgical procedure
C) Multiple procedures (Correct Answer)
D) Therapeutic procedures
Question 62
In coding, which qualifier indicates a patient’s disease behavior?
A) Active
B) In remission (Correct Answer)
C) Stable
D) Worsening
Question 63
What is the purpose of including laterality in certain medical codes?
A) To give more detail to patient conditions
B) To identify which side of the body is affected (Correct Answer)
C) To determine payment differences
D) All of the above
Question 64
If a patient receives chemotherapy and develops anemia, how should this be coded?
A) Code only for anemia
B) Code only for chemotherapy
C) Both conditions should be coded (Correct Answer)
D) Neither should be coded
Question 65
What would be the correct ICD-10-CM code for acute bronchitis due to influenza?
A) J20.9
B) J40
C) J42
D) J20.81 (Correct Answer)
Question 66
An infant is diagnosed with congenital pneumonia. What is the correct code?
A) P23.0 (Correct Answer)
B) J18.9
C) P24.9
D) J20.9
Question 67
What modifier would you use for a procedure that is bilateral and performed on both sides?
A) -76
B) -50 (Correct Answer)
C) -51
D) -59
Question 68
What is the billing code for routine vision screening?
A) Z03.89
B) Z01.00 (Correct Answer)
C) Z01.01
D) Z20.828
Question 69
What is the primary objective of medical necessity in coding?
A) To increase payment
B) To allow more tests
C) To ensure the service provided is necessary for treatment (Correct Answer)
D) To simplify documentation
Question 70
A patient receives medication for his anxiety. How would this be indicated in the medical record?
A) No code is needed
B) Use an appropriate F code (Correct Answer)
C) Use a Z code
D) Only document medication details