HCS-D PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
2026
1. Which statement is true with respect to pressure ulcers?
a. The pressure ulcer is granulating. The appropriate stage code should be assigned
based on documentation of ulcer at its worst. If documentation does not provide
information about the stage, query the clinician.
b. Stage 3 pressure ulcer that has closed is still coded, but it is now coded as
unstageable.
c. When documentation is unclear as to whether the pressure ulcer is current or
whether treatment is for a healing pressure ulcer, it is appropriate to default to healing.
d. Patient is admitted with a Stage 2 pressure ulcer, but it progresses to Stage 3. Assign
the stage 2 code and the stage 3 code.
a. The pressure ulcer is granulating. The appropriate stage code should be assigned
based on documentation of ulcer at its worst. If documentation does not provide
information about the stage, query the clinician.
2. Mr. Mike has alcoholic polyneuropathy. His physician notes a long history of
alcoholism. Mr. Mike's favorite drink is vodka. Code it.
a. G62.1, F10.288
b. T51.0x1A, G62.2,
c. G62.1, F10.20
d. F10.10, G63
a. G62.1, F10.288
3. Chronic obstructive bronchitis with emphysema, for which supplemental oxygen is
needed. She also has hypertension. How should this be coded?
a. J44.1, J43.9, I10, Z99.81
b. J44.1, I10
c. J44.9, I10, Z99.81
d. J44.9, J43.9, I10, Z99.81
c. J44.9, I10, Z99.81
4. Mr. Ned has secondary diabetes. Notes indicate that he has pancreatic cancer and
recently underwent a partial pancreatectomy. What other piece of information should
the coder know?
,a. No other piece of information is necessary. Code E89.1, E13.9, and then Z90.411
and C25.9.
b. The coder should know whether the diabetes was the result of the cancer, the result
of some medication used to treat the cancer, or the removal of the pancreas in order to
choose the correct diabetes code.
c. No other piece of information is necessary. Code E13.9 for the diabetes, C25.9, and
Z90.410.
d. No other piece of information is necessary besides whether the patient uses insulin. If
so, code E89.1, then E13.9, Z90.410 and Z79.4 if he requires insulin.
b. The coder should know whether the diabetes was the result of the cancer, the result
of some medication used to treat the cancer, or the removal of the pancreas in order to
choose the correct diabetes code.
5. If the patient is receiving treatment to the ostomy site, a Z43.- code would be
assigned.
a. False
b. True
b. True
6. Mr. Merle is admitted for treatment of anemia related to lung cancer of the left lung.
He also has stomatitis due to chemotherapy and a new 'swish and spit' drug. Code it.
a. C34.9, D63.8, K12.31
b. D64.81, K12.31, T45.1x5D, C34.92
c. C34.92, D63.0, K12.31, T45.1x5D
d. D63.0, C34.92, K12.31, T45.1x5D
c. C34.92, D63.0, K12.31, T45.1x5D
7. Mr. Winslow was admitted to home care with Grade 4 colon cancer that was excised
and eradicated from ascending and transverse colon last year, and is now diagnosed
with metastasis to liver. No further treatment to colon. He has a colostomy and can
perform care. He is undecided about chemo treatment for liver mets. What is the best
coding for this patient?
a. C78.7, C18.8, Z43.3
b. C18.2, C18.4, C78.7, Z93.3
c. C78.7, Z85.038, Z93.3
d. Z93.3, C18.9, Z85.030, C78.7
c. C78.7, Z85.038, Z93.3
, 8. The patient has secondary diabetes and also has gastroparesis. How should this be
coded?
a. K31.84, E13.9
b. E13.43, K31.84
c. E13.9, K31.84
d. E08.43, K31.89
e. E13.43
e. E13.43
9. Which of the following relationships may be assumed in ICD-10:
a. ASHD (CAD) and angina
b. Hypertension and cardiomegaly
c. Osteoporosis and fractures, even if a minor fall
d. Diabetes and osteomyelitis
e. None of the above. All cause and effect relationships must be confirmed with the
physician.
f. All of the above
f. All of the above
10. Ketone prone diabetes mellitus is found in Category E10.
a. False
b. True
b. True
11. The patient was released from observation last night and admitted to home care this
morning. The H&P states that the patient was released last Tuesday from the hospital
after a CABG and was placed on observation for SOB and chest pain. The nurse
documents CHF and reports rales, crackles, and wheezes with slight peripheral edema
and documents interventions for CHF. What would be the appropriate action?
a. Ask the nurse where she got the diagnosis of CHF and ask her to verify that
diagnosis with the physician.
b. Code CHF as a complication of a CABG.
c. Code systolic heart failure because the patient has pulmonary complications from the
heart failure.
d. Ignore what the nurse said and code the aftercare circulatory code and SOB and
angina
a. Ask the nurse where she got the diagnosis of CHF and ask her to verify that
diagnosis with the physician.
2026
1. Which statement is true with respect to pressure ulcers?
a. The pressure ulcer is granulating. The appropriate stage code should be assigned
based on documentation of ulcer at its worst. If documentation does not provide
information about the stage, query the clinician.
b. Stage 3 pressure ulcer that has closed is still coded, but it is now coded as
unstageable.
c. When documentation is unclear as to whether the pressure ulcer is current or
whether treatment is for a healing pressure ulcer, it is appropriate to default to healing.
d. Patient is admitted with a Stage 2 pressure ulcer, but it progresses to Stage 3. Assign
the stage 2 code and the stage 3 code.
a. The pressure ulcer is granulating. The appropriate stage code should be assigned
based on documentation of ulcer at its worst. If documentation does not provide
information about the stage, query the clinician.
2. Mr. Mike has alcoholic polyneuropathy. His physician notes a long history of
alcoholism. Mr. Mike's favorite drink is vodka. Code it.
a. G62.1, F10.288
b. T51.0x1A, G62.2,
c. G62.1, F10.20
d. F10.10, G63
a. G62.1, F10.288
3. Chronic obstructive bronchitis with emphysema, for which supplemental oxygen is
needed. She also has hypertension. How should this be coded?
a. J44.1, J43.9, I10, Z99.81
b. J44.1, I10
c. J44.9, I10, Z99.81
d. J44.9, J43.9, I10, Z99.81
c. J44.9, I10, Z99.81
4. Mr. Ned has secondary diabetes. Notes indicate that he has pancreatic cancer and
recently underwent a partial pancreatectomy. What other piece of information should
the coder know?
,a. No other piece of information is necessary. Code E89.1, E13.9, and then Z90.411
and C25.9.
b. The coder should know whether the diabetes was the result of the cancer, the result
of some medication used to treat the cancer, or the removal of the pancreas in order to
choose the correct diabetes code.
c. No other piece of information is necessary. Code E13.9 for the diabetes, C25.9, and
Z90.410.
d. No other piece of information is necessary besides whether the patient uses insulin. If
so, code E89.1, then E13.9, Z90.410 and Z79.4 if he requires insulin.
b. The coder should know whether the diabetes was the result of the cancer, the result
of some medication used to treat the cancer, or the removal of the pancreas in order to
choose the correct diabetes code.
5. If the patient is receiving treatment to the ostomy site, a Z43.- code would be
assigned.
a. False
b. True
b. True
6. Mr. Merle is admitted for treatment of anemia related to lung cancer of the left lung.
He also has stomatitis due to chemotherapy and a new 'swish and spit' drug. Code it.
a. C34.9, D63.8, K12.31
b. D64.81, K12.31, T45.1x5D, C34.92
c. C34.92, D63.0, K12.31, T45.1x5D
d. D63.0, C34.92, K12.31, T45.1x5D
c. C34.92, D63.0, K12.31, T45.1x5D
7. Mr. Winslow was admitted to home care with Grade 4 colon cancer that was excised
and eradicated from ascending and transverse colon last year, and is now diagnosed
with metastasis to liver. No further treatment to colon. He has a colostomy and can
perform care. He is undecided about chemo treatment for liver mets. What is the best
coding for this patient?
a. C78.7, C18.8, Z43.3
b. C18.2, C18.4, C78.7, Z93.3
c. C78.7, Z85.038, Z93.3
d. Z93.3, C18.9, Z85.030, C78.7
c. C78.7, Z85.038, Z93.3
, 8. The patient has secondary diabetes and also has gastroparesis. How should this be
coded?
a. K31.84, E13.9
b. E13.43, K31.84
c. E13.9, K31.84
d. E08.43, K31.89
e. E13.43
e. E13.43
9. Which of the following relationships may be assumed in ICD-10:
a. ASHD (CAD) and angina
b. Hypertension and cardiomegaly
c. Osteoporosis and fractures, even if a minor fall
d. Diabetes and osteomyelitis
e. None of the above. All cause and effect relationships must be confirmed with the
physician.
f. All of the above
f. All of the above
10. Ketone prone diabetes mellitus is found in Category E10.
a. False
b. True
b. True
11. The patient was released from observation last night and admitted to home care this
morning. The H&P states that the patient was released last Tuesday from the hospital
after a CABG and was placed on observation for SOB and chest pain. The nurse
documents CHF and reports rales, crackles, and wheezes with slight peripheral edema
and documents interventions for CHF. What would be the appropriate action?
a. Ask the nurse where she got the diagnosis of CHF and ask her to verify that
diagnosis with the physician.
b. Code CHF as a complication of a CABG.
c. Code systolic heart failure because the patient has pulmonary complications from the
heart failure.
d. Ignore what the nurse said and code the aftercare circulatory code and SOB and
angina
a. Ask the nurse where she got the diagnosis of CHF and ask her to verify that
diagnosis with the physician.
