Master ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines: A Comprehensive Guide for Medical Assistants

Question 1

Which element is not required when coding a fracture?

Accepted Answer

Patient's age

Answer

Laterality

Answer

Fracture site

Answer

Fracture type

Question 2

Which of the following is not a recognized source for official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines?

Accepted Answer

World Health Organization (WHO)

Answer

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Answer

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

Answer

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Question 3

When selecting an ICD-10-CM code for a diagnosis, the coder should primarily consider:

Accepted Answer

The most specific code that accurately describes the condition

Answer

The patient's primary reason for the encounter

Answer

The physician's clinical impression

Answer

The code with the highest reimbursement value

Question 4

Which of the following is a valid documentation principle for ICD-10-CM coding?

Accepted Answer

Use specific terms and avoid abbreviations whenever possible.

Answer

Code every diagnosis documented in the medical record, even if not explicitly stated.

Answer

Assign codes for symptoms and signs, regardless of whether they are explicitly stated.

Answer

Code to the lowest level of specificity possible.

Question 5

What is the purpose of using seventh characters in ICD-10-CM codes?

Accepted Answer

To indicate the laterality or bilaterality of the condition

Answer

To specify the severity or stage of the condition

Answer

To identify the etiology or cause of the condition

Answer

To indicate the chronicity or duration of the condition

Question 6

How should an "Excludes" note in the ICD-10-CM tabular list be interpreted?

Accepted Answer

It indicates that the excluded condition cannot coexist with the code.

Answer

It suggests that the excluded condition may coexist with the code.

Answer

It implies that the excluded condition is always more severe than the code.

Answer

It means that the code is not valid for use.

Question 7

When sequencing ICD-10-CM codes, which of the following is the general rule?

Accepted Answer

Code the primary reason for the encounter first.

Answer

Code the most severe condition first.

Answer

Code the condition most likely to be reimbursed first.

Answer

Code the highest code first.

Question 8

Which of the following options is NOT a valid code for a patient with hypertension?

Accepted Answer

I15.9

Answer

I10

Answer

I11.0

Answer

I12.0

Question 9

Which of the following options is a valid Z code?

Accepted Answer

Z60.0

Answer

V67.2

Answer

J45.01

Answer

S82.011A

Question 10

According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, which of the following should be coded as the principal diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The most severe condition

Answer

The condition with the longest history

Answer

The condition requiring the most treatment

Answer

All conditions present

Question 11

When coding a diagnosis of hypertension with renal involvement, in which order should the codes be listed?

Accepted Answer

Hypertension first, followed by renal involvement

Answer

Renal involvement first, followed by hypertension

Answer

Either code can be listed first

Answer

Neither code can be listed

Question 12

When coding a procedure involving multiple body parts, which guideline should be followed?

Accepted Answer

Code the most extensive body part

Answer

Code each body part separately

Answer

Code the body part with the highest priority

Answer

Code the body part with the longest recovery time

Question 13

In ICD-10-CM, what type of note indicates that a particular code should not be used under specific circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Exclusion note

Answer

Inclusion note

Answer

Unspecified note

Answer

Additional note

Question 14

Which code should be used for a diagnosis of dementia?

Accepted Answer

F03.9

Answer

F03.90

Answer

F03.91

Answer

F03.92

Question 15

When coding an external cause of injury, the coder should select the code that:

Accepted Answer

Best describes the mechanism or manner in which the injury occurred.

Answer

Corresponds to the specific body part that was injured.

Answer

Represents the most severe injury sustained.

Answer

Should not be coded at all, as it is not relevant to the patient's medical condition.

Question 16

For a patient with a history of hypertension without any complications, which ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?

Accepted Answer

I10.9

Answer

I10

Answer

I11

Answer

I15

Question 17

When coding a patient encounter with both a primary and a secondary diagnosis, the correct order of coding is:

Accepted Answer

Primary diagnosis followed by the secondary diagnosis.

Answer

Secondary diagnosis followed by the primary diagnosis.

Answer

Both diagnoses coded together in the same field.

Answer

Only the primary diagnosis should be coded.

Question 18

Which component is mandatory for all ICD-10-CM codes?

Accepted Answer

Code number

Answer

Code description

Answer

Code title

Answer

Laterality

Question 19

What is the purpose of the 'Excludes' note in ICD-10-CM coding?

Accepted Answer

To indicate conditions that are not to be coded together

Answer

To list conditions always associated with the main diagnosis

Answer

To provide extra details about the code

Answer

To specify the primary diagnosis cause

Question 20

Which general rule applies to sequencing codes?

Accepted Answer

Code the condition with the most specific description first

Answer

Prioritize coding the most severe condition

Answer

Code the condition that triggered the hospitalization first

Answer

Give precedence to codes with the highest numbers

Question 21

What is the purpose of the 'Unspecified' code category?

Accepted Answer

To represent a condition not explicitly described by a specific code

Answer

To code a condition that is absent

Answer

To code a condition that is no longer present

Answer

To code a condition that is not relevant to the patient

Question 22

How do 'Codes' differ from 'Subcodes' in ICD-10-CM?

Accepted Answer

Codes represent broad categories, while subcodes provide more detail

Answer

Subcodes represent broad categories, while codes provide more detail

Answer

Codes and subcodes are essentially the same

Answer

Subcodes are only used for inpatient coding

Question 23

What is the purpose of the 'Not Otherwise Specified' (NOS) code category?

Accepted Answer

To represent a condition not explicitly described by a specific code

Answer

To code a condition that is absent

Answer

To code a condition that is no longer present

Answer

To code a condition that is not relevant to the patient