500+ Medical Coder Interview Questions and Answers

Asthma is a common respiratory disease treated with bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

• Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways.

• Bronchodilators like albuterol are used to relax the muscles around the airways and improve breathing.

• Corticosteroids like fluticasone are used to reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma attacks.

• Other respiratory diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia.

• COPD ...read more

Assign ICD codes for a patient with abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, and sepsis.

• Assign the primary diagnosis code for sepsis (A41.9)

• Assign the secondary diagnosis code for gastroenteritis (K52.9)

• Assign additional codes for any other relevant conditions or symptoms

• Sequence the codes in order of importance, with the primary diagnosis listed first

There are 11 body systems in the human body. The respiratory system is responsible for breathing and gas exchange.

• There are 11 body systems in the human body, including the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, and skeletal systems.

• The respiratory system is responsible for breathing and gas exchange, allowing oxygen to enter the body and carbon dioxide to exit.

• Other systems include the cardiovascular system, which pumps blood throughout the body, and the endocrine sys...read more

Key components to code laceration repair cpt code

• Location of the laceration

• Length of the laceration

• Depth of the laceration

• Number of layers repaired

• Type of closure used

• Anesthesia used

• Any complications

• Example: CPT code 12001 for simple repair of a laceration on the arm that is 2.5 cm in length and required 2 layers of closure

HCC stands for Hierarchical Condition Category, a system used to predict healthcare costs and reimbursements.

• HCC is used by Medicare Advantage plans to determine payment rates for beneficiaries.

• It is based on the patient's medical conditions and demographic information.

• Inpatient guidelines refer to the rules and regulations for coding medical procedures and diagnoses for patients who require hospitalization.

• Acute conditions are illnesses or injuries that are severe and sudden...read more

Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, while veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

• Arteries have thicker walls and are more elastic than veins.

• Veins have valves to prevent backflow of blood.

• Examples of arteries include the aorta and pulmonary artery, while examples of veins include the superior and inferior vena cava.

• Blood flow in arteries is pulsatile due to the pumping action of the heart, while blood flow in veins is steady and slower.

Rx HCC is a risk adjustment model used to predict healthcare costs for Medicare Advantage patients.

• Rx HCC stands for Risk Adjustment Hierarchical Condition Categories

• It is used to predict healthcare costs for Medicare Advantage patients based on their chronic and permanent conditions

• Chronic and permanent conditions are those that are expected to last for at least a year or until the patient's death

• 2022 ICD 10cm guidelines include new codes for COVID-19 and vaping-related diso...read more

The digestive system is a vital part of the medical science department, responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.

• The digestive system includes organs such as the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas.

• Medical coders must have a thorough understanding of the digestive system in order to accurately code procedures and diagnoses related to this area.

• Examples of digestive system-related codes include those for gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and c...read more

ICD and CPT are medical coding systems used to classify diseases and medical procedures respectively. Pathology is the study of diseases.

• ICD stands for International Classification of Diseases and is used to classify diseases and medical conditions.

• CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology and is used to classify medical procedures and services.

• Pathology is the study of diseases and their causes, processes, and effects.

• The human body has 11 major systems, including the ca...read more

Neoplasm is an abnormal growth of cells, which can be benign or malignant.

• Neoplasm is commonly known as a tumor.

• Benign neoplasms are non-cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body.

• Malignant neoplasms are cancerous and can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

• Types of neoplasms include adenomas, carcinomas, sarcomas, and lymphomas.

• Neoplasms can occur in various organs and tissues of the body.

Bones in the ear are essential for hearing and maintaining balance.

• The bones in the ear are called the ossicles.

• They consist of the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup).

• These bones transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

• They amplify the sound and help in the process of hearing.

• The ossicles also play a role in maintaining balance by detecting head movements.

The name of the shortest bone is the stapes.

• The stapes is located in the middle ear.

• It is also known as the stirrup bone.

• It measures only 2-3mm in length.

• It is one of the three ossicles in the ear that transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.

The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two lobes.

• The right lung is larger and has more lobes than the left lung.

• Each lobe is further divided into smaller segments called bronchopulmonary segments.

• The lobes of the lungs are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during respiration.

• The lobes of the lungs can be affected by various diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer, and tuberculosis.

Personal info resume cross check is a process of verifying the accuracy of personal information provided in a resume.

• It involves verifying the candidate's name, contact details, educational qualifications, work experience, and other personal information.

• This process helps to ensure that the information provided by the candidate is accurate and truthful.

• Employers may use various methods to cross-check the information, such as contacting references, conducting background checks...read more

I have technical certifications in medical coding and am proficient in various programming languages and operating systems.

• I am certified in medical coding through AAPC or AHIMA.

• I am proficient in programming languages such as Java, Python, and SQL.

• I am comfortable working with various operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

• My technical expertise includes medical coding, data analysis, and software development.

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body. Blood is composed of plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets.

• The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

• Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues and removes waste products.

• Plasma is the liquid component of blood and makes up about 55% of its volume.

• Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen and gives blood its red color.

• White blood...read more

The endocrine system regulates hormones, the digestive system processes food, and the cardiovascular system circulates blood.

• The endocrine system includes glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, which produce hormones that regulate bodily functions.

• The digestive system includes organs such as the stomach, small intestine, and colon, which break down food and absorb nutrients.

• The cardiovascular system includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood, which circu...read more

The coding process involves assigning codes to medical diagnoses and procedures for billing purposes.

• Medical coders use standardized code sets such as ICD-10-CM and CPT to accurately code medical records.

• Injuries and fractures are coded using specific codes based on the location and severity of the injury.

• To become proficient in coding, one must complete a medical coding program and gain experience in the field.

• Self-coding is not recommended as it can lead to errors and incor...read more

The femur is the longest bone in the human body.

• The femur is located in the thigh and extends from the hip to the knee.

• It is also the strongest bone in the body.

• The femur is essential for walking, running, and other weight-bearing activities.

• In medical coding, knowledge of bone anatomy is important for accurate coding of fractures and other injuries.

An important topic in anatomy is the study of the human body's structure and function.

• Understanding the different systems of the body such as the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems

• Knowledge of anatomical terminology and directional terms

• Familiarity with the organs and their functions

• Awareness of common anatomical variations and abnormalities

• Ability to identify and differentiate between different types of tissues

Coding in medical field refers to the process of assigning specific codes to medical diagnoses, procedures, and services.

• Coding is essential for accurate medical billing and reimbursement.

• Medical coders use various coding systems such as ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS.

• Codes provide standardized information about patient conditions, treatments, and healthcare services.

• Examples of codes include ICD-10-CM code for diabetes (E11.9) and CPT code for a routine office visit (99213).

The name of the jaw bone is mandible.

• The mandible is the largest and strongest bone in the face.

• It is the only movable bone in the skull.

• It articulates with the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (insulin independent) are two types of diabetes. Some drugs used for type 2 diabetes include metformin, acarbose, glipizide, glimepride, glyburide, and meglitol.

• Type 1 diabetes requires insulin for treatment.

• Type 2 diabetes can be managed with oral medications.

• Metformin is commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes.

• Acarbose helps control blood sugar levels by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates.

• Glipizide, glimepride, and glyburide st...read more

The cardiovascular system is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products.

• The heart pumps blood through a network of blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.

• Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body, while veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

• Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that connect arteries and veins, allowing for the exchange ...read more

There are 11 organ systems in the human body.

• The organ systems include the circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, etc.

• Each organ system is made up of specific organs and tissues that work together to perform a particular function.

• For example, the circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood, and its function is to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

The skin has three main layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.

• The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and is responsible for protecting the body from the environment.

• The dermis is the middle layer of skin and contains hair follicles, sweat glands, and blood vessels.

• The subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer of skin and is made up of fat and connective tissue.

• Other structures found in the skin include nerves, lymphatic vessels, and muscle fibers.

• Skin layers...read more

Patient condition before and after disease refers to the state of health of the patient prior to and after the onset of the disease.

• Before disease: patient was healthy and had no symptoms

• After disease: patient experienced symptoms and may have had a decline in health

• Example: Before disease, patient had normal blood pressure and no signs of diabetes. After disease, patient had high blood pressure and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.