Mixed Deck — All CCS Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real CCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All CCS Topics flashcards as text
When a patient's record contains conflicting documentation between the attending physician and a consulting specialist regarding a diagnosis, what should the coder do?
Answer: Query the attending physician for clarification
When documentation is conflicting or ambiguous, the coder should query the attending physician (who is responsible for the patient's care) for clarification before assigning codes.
Which government program provides healthcare coverage for individuals aged 65 and older?
Answer: Medicare
Medicare is the federal government program that provides healthcare coverage primarily for individuals aged 65 and older. It also covers certain younger people with disabilities and those with End-Stage Renal Disease. Medicare helps cover hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs, playing a crucial role in the U.S. healthcare system.
What is a collision in the context of hash tables?
Answer: Two keys map to the same index
A collision occurs when two different keys produce the same hash index, requiring a resolution strategy like chaining or open addressing.
What is the time complexity of searching for an element in a balanced BST?
Answer: O(log n)
A balanced BST halves the search space at each step, yielding O(log n) search time.
What does the acronym CRUD stand for in the context of database operations?
Answer: Create, Read, Update, Delete
CRUD represents the four basic database operations: Create, Read, Update, and Delete, which cover all fundamental data manipulation tasks.
What is the purpose of a query in a healthcare database management system?
Answer: To retrieve specific information from the database
A query retrieves, filters, or aggregates data from a database based on specified criteria.
Why is stakeholder management important in projects?
Answer: Because stakeholder support and engagement are critical to project success
Identifying and managing stakeholder expectations helps ensure support, resources, and alignment with project goals.
According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, how should an uncertain diagnosis be handled in the inpatient setting?
Answer: Code the condition as if confirmed
For inpatient encounters, ICD-10-CM guidelines allow coding a condition described as 'probable,' 'suspected,' or 'possible' as if established.
Under the Official Guidelines, what is the correct approach to coding a patient's HIV disease with an HIV-related condition?
Answer: Sequence B20 (HIV disease) first, followed by codes for all HIV-related conditions
ICD-10-CM Guidelines Section I.C.1.a state that B20 (HIV disease) is sequenced as principal/first-listed when the patient has confirmed HIV disease with associated conditions, followed by codes for all documented manifestations.
What is a 'boolean' data type used for?
Answer: Representing true or false values
A boolean data type holds only two possible values: true or false, commonly used in conditional logic.
A hospital's coding department stores patient files on shared drives. Which access control approach best aligns with the minimum necessary standard?
Answer: Access is limited to only the data needed to perform each job function
The minimum necessary standard requires limiting access to only the PHI needed for each employee to perform their specific job duties.
CPT modifier -59 is used to indicate:
Answer: A distinct procedural service not normally reported together but appropriate under the circumstances
Modifier -59 identifies a procedure or service as distinct or independent from other services performed on the same day when other modifiers do not adequately describe the situation.
How many characters does every ICD-10-PCS code contain?
Answer: 7
All ICD-10-PCS codes are exactly 7 characters in length, with each character representing a specific axis of classification (section, body system, root operation, body part, approach, device, qualifier).
What is scope creep?
Answer: Uncontrolled expansion of project scope without corresponding adjustments
Scope creep occurs when additional requirements are added without adjusting timeline, budget, or resources, potentially jeopardizing the project.
Which of the following actions would best protect ePHI stored on a laptop used by a remote coder?
Answer: Using full-disk encryption and requiring a strong password at startup
Full-disk encryption ensures that even if a laptop is lost or stolen, the ePHI stored on it cannot be accessed without the decryption credentials.
What is an IP address?
Answer: A unique numerical identifier assigned to each device on a network
IP addresses uniquely identify devices on a network, enabling routing of data to the correct destination.
What type of data structure uses key-value pairs for storage?
Answer: Dictionary (hash map)
A dictionary or hash map stores data as key-value pairs, allowing fast lookup by key.
What is a common reason for insurance claim rejections?
Answer: Coding errors and missing documentation.
Insurance claim rejections frequently occur due to administrative errors such as incorrect or incomplete coding, or a lack of necessary supporting documentation. Accurate medical coding (e.g., CPT and ICD-10 codes) is crucial for justifying the medical necessity of services and ensuring proper reimbursement. Missing or erroneous information can prevent the payer from processing the claim, leading to rejection.
What is the purpose of pseudocode in programming?
Answer: To plan logic in plain language before writing actual code
Pseudocode is an informal, language-agnostic description of an algorithm used to plan before implementation.
Which network model employs salaried physicians who work exclusively at the plan's own facilities?
Answer: Staff Model HMO
A staff model HMO directly employs physicians as salaried staff who practice exclusively within the HMO's own clinics or medical centers.