CPC Anesthesia Coding and Modifiers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anesthesia modifier indicates that a CRNA provided anesthesia services without medical direction by a physician?
- QX
- QZ (Correct answer)
- QY
- QS
Correct answer: QZ
Modifier QZ is used when a CRNA performs anesthesia services without any medical direction from an anesthesiologist.
Question 2: A patient undergoes surgery requiring anesthesia and has severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life. What ASA physical status does this represent?
- P3
- P4 (Correct answer)
- P5
- P6
Correct answer: P4
ASA P4 denotes a patient with a severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life.
Question 3: How are anesthesia base units combined with time units to calculate an anesthesia fee?
- Base units minus time units multiplied by conversion factor
- Base units plus time units multiplied by conversion factor (Correct answer)
- Base units divided by time units
- Time units only multiplied by conversion factor
Correct answer: Base units plus time units multiplied by conversion factor
Anesthesia payment = (base units + time units) × conversion factor.
Question 4: Which modifier is appended to anesthesia codes when a single anesthesiologist medically directs two to four concurrent CRNA cases?
- QK (Correct answer)
- QX
- AD
- QY
Correct answer: QK
Modifier QK indicates the anesthesiologist is medically directing two to four concurrent procedures performed by CRNAs or other qualified individuals.
Question 5: A patient is brought to the OR emergently after a traumatic injury. Which qualifying circumstance add-on code reflects the emergency nature of the anesthesia?
- 99100
- 99116
- 99135
- 99140 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 99140
CPT 99140 is the qualifying circumstance code for emergency conditions that significantly complicate anesthesia administration.
Question 6: For anesthesia coding, how many minutes typically constitute one time unit under standard CMS guidelines?
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 20 minutes
- 30 minutes
Correct answer: 15 minutes
CMS and most payers use 15-minute increments as one anesthesia time unit.
Question 7: Which CPT anesthesia code range covers procedures on the lower abdomen?
- 00100–00222
- 00300–00352
- 00700–00797
- 00800–00882 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 00800–00882
CPT codes 00800–00882 cover anesthesia for procedures performed on the lower abdomen.
CPC Anesthesia Coding and Modifiers 2
Which anesthesia modifier indicates that a CRNA provided anesthesia services without medical direction by a physician?