Medical Challenges

Evaluation and Management Coding Based on Time
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Evaluation and Management Coding Based on Time

The Coding Challenge Question: An established 44-year-old male is seen at his physician’s office today for a new 3-cm lump on the left arm. The physician spends 5 minutes reviewing the patient’s chart while other qualified clinical staff takes the patient’s vitals. The physician then spends 15 minutes updating the patient’s history and performing a…

Knee Replacement Surgery Coding Challenge
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Knee Replacement Surgery Coding Challenge

The Coding Challenge Question: Patient with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis is admitted for a total knee replacement of both knees. The patient has significant bilateral knee joint pain, stiffness, and loss of function. Assign the CPT code(s). A. 27447, 27447-50B. 27446-50C. 27447-51D. 27487-RT, 27487-LT Answer: (more…)

Free ICD-10-CM Coding Challenge: Swimmer’s Ear
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Free ICD-10-CM Coding Challenge: Swimmer’s Ear

Take the Free ICD-10-CM Coding Challenge below and test your medical coding skills on swimmer’s ear. Then check your answer against the answer and rationale provided. I’m pulling for you!! Not your ear, though. I won’t pull your infected ear because that would hurt. 😉 The Coding Challenge Question: A 10-year-old male complains of pain…

Coding Challenge – X-ray Imaging and Pain
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Coding Challenge – X-ray Imaging and Pain

Radiology Service Components and Unconfirmed Diagnoses Often when a radiology service is performed, there are two components involved: a technical component and a professional component. When only the technical or professional component is provided, the appropriate modifier needs to be appended to the CPT code to indicate to the payer how that portion of the…