CPC Exam Dumps : Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam

The operative report documents amalignant lesion excision(basal cell carcinoma) on theright forearmfollowed by reconstruction with anadjacent tissue transfer (rotation flap)afterfrozen sectionconfirmed clear margins. In CPT, when a defect is repaired withadjacent tissue transfer/rearrangement, the flap code includes the work ofexcision (including necessary undermining and preparation of the recipient site)performed as part of creating and closing the defect; therefore the malignant excision code (e.g.,11606) isnot separately reportedin this same session when the excision is integral to the flap repair. Code selection for adjacent tissue transfer is based on theanatomic siteand thetotal defect area (primary + secondary defects). The documentedtotal area is 8 sq cm, and the site is theforearm (arm/leg grouping). For arms/legs,10 sq cm or lessis reported with14020. Codes14040apply to a different anatomic region grouping and do not match the forearm. Frozen section pathology/margin control does not change the primary surgical coding here. Therefore, report14020 only.

In ICD-10-CM coding, an Excludes2 note under a code indicates that the condition listed in the note is not included in the definition of the code, but it does not necessarily mean they cannot coexist. This type of note means that while the conditions are distinct, it may be appropriate to report both codes if a patient has both conditions at the same time.

A. is incorrect because Excludes1, not Excludes2, indicates that certain codes should not be reported together.

C. is a description of an Excludes1 note, which implies that the two conditions should not be coded together because they cannot occur simultaneously.

D. is also a description of an Excludes1 note, which serves as a "NOT CODED HERE!" directive.

Therefore, the correct answer is B. It is acceptable to report both the code and the excluded code together, when applicable.

1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:

The obstetric panel ordered includes the following tests: syphilis screening (non-treponemal), automated CBC with manual differential WBC count, HBsAg, rubella antibody, serum antibody screen, and ABO/Rh blood typing.

CPT® Code 80055 is for a comprehensive obstetric panel that includes all these components. This code is intended to report the entire panel of tests as a bundled service rather than itemizing each individual test.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Option B lists the individual component codes for each test in the obstetric panel (e.g., 85027, 85007, 87340, etc.), but using 80055 is more appropriate because it provides a single code to report the full obstetric panel and follows CPT® bundling guidelines.

Option C also lists the individual tests separately, which is unnecessary when 80055 includes all these components.

Option D lists 80081, which is for an obstetric panel that includes HIV testing. Since HIV testing is not part of the tests described in this scenario, 80081 is incorrect.

3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:

AAPC guidelines recommend using the single code 80055 when all components of an obstetric panel are ordered together, as itemizing each test individually is not necessary.

Therefore, the correct answer is A. 80055.