APSE CESP CERTIFICATION SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Benefits Counseling and Benefits Analysis.
Answer: Services provided to assist an individual in understanding options
and possibilities in order to make an informed choice about going to work.
These services result in a report informed choice about employment.
◍ Business Proposals (Job Carving):.
Answer: The process of listing the key components of jobs and employment
needs to develop a written proposal for an employer on how those needs can
be met. A proposal typically includes language identifying job tasks for
increased work efficiencies and the matching of an individual's skills with
workplace needs This process can result in either job restructuring or job
creation.
◍ The provider performs a diagnostic thoracoscopy followed by the
thoracoscopic excision of a pericardial cyst. What CPT® code(s) is/are
reported?.
Answer: 32661 In the CPT® Index look for Thoracoscopy/Surgical/with
Excision Pericardial Cyst, Tumor and/or Mass and you are directed to
32661.
◍ A patient's nose was hit with a baseball during a high school baseball game.
At that time reconstruction was performed with local grafts. Patient returns
now as an adult, discontent with the bony prominence along the bony
pyramid and flat look of the tip of the nose. He underwent major repair with
osteotomies and nasal tip work. What CPT® code is reported?.
Answer: 30450:Rationale: The procedure performed now is a secondary
rhinoplasty due to unfavorable results from the initial rhinoplasty. In the
, CPT® Index look for Rhinoplasty/Secondary directing you to code range
30430-30450. Code selection is based on the reason for the repair and the
extensiveness of the repair. 30450 reports a major secondary revision
including osteotomies and nasal tip work
◍ Career Seeker Portfolio.
Answer: A job-hunting tool that developed to provide employers a complete
picture of the job seekers experience, education, accomplishments, skill sets,
and potential.
◍ Competitive Employment.
Answer: Work performed in the integrated labor market in which the
individual is compensated at or above minimum wage, but not less than the
customary wage and benefits paid for the same or similar work performed
by individuals who do not have a disability.
◍ Employment First.
Answer: The philosophy that presumes employability of all people in the
community regardless of disability.
◍ A patient with AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) has just learned his
sister is an HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) match for him. Stem cells
taken from the donor (the patient's sister) will be transplanted into the
patient to help with his treatment. What CPT® code is used to report the
harvesting of the stem cells from the donor (his sister)?.
Answer: 38205:Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for Stem
Cell/Harvesting. This directs you to code range 38205, 38206. Code
selection is based on whether it is allogenic (from a donor) or autologous
(from the patient). This is allogenic making 38205 the correct code choice.
◍ Employment First Components.
Answer: Being the first and preferred outcome for working-age youth and
adults with disabilities, including those with complex and significant
disabilities, for whom working in the past has been limited, or has not
traditionally occurred.
,◍ A patient is seen in the OR for removal of a hepatic adenoma, which has
invaded the diaphragm. The resection of the diaphragm portion of the mass
was repaired with primary sutures. What CPT® code is reported for the
diaphragmatic mass resection.
Answer: 39560: Rationale: In the CPT® Index, look up
Resection/Diaphragm, which directs you to code range 39560-39561. Code
selection depends on the type of repair. The repair is with primary sutures
which is considered a simple repair making 39560 the correct code choice.
◍ Employment First Component.
Answer: Using typical or customized employment techniques to secure
membership in the workforce, where employees with disabilities are
included on the payroll of a competitive business or industry or are self-
employed business owners.
◍ A 43-year-old female is seen in the emergency room with severe epistaxis.
She said this is a common occurrence for her during the cold dry months of
winter and this is why she is here for the third time this week. Extensive
bilateral posterior cautery and packing is again required to control the
hemorrhage. What CPT® code is reported for the procedure? (Note: Do not
code the E/M).
Answer: 30906-50:Rationale: Epistaxis is the term for nasal hemorrhage. In
the CPT® Index, look up Packing, Nasal Hemorrhage and you are directed
to code range 30901-30906. Code selection is determined by whether the
procedure is posterior or anterior. This is posterior and is subsequent making
the correct code 30906. Modifier 50 indicates this was done bilaterally.
◍ An operative report lists excisional bilateral biopsies of deep cervical nodes
and biopsy of right deep axillary nodes as the procedures performed. The
pathology report comes back confirming lymphadenitis. What CPT® codes
are reported?.
Answer: 38510-50, 38525-51-RT:Rationale: In the CPT® Index, look under
Lymph Nodes/Biopsy and you are directed to a series of codes. Turn to
codes 38500 and 38510-38530. Code 38510 represents the deep cervical
, nodes and the 50 modifier indicates that they were excised bilaterally. Next,
look to code 38525. This code is appropriate for reporting the deep axillary
nodes excised. The RT modifier indicates these lymph nodes were taken
only from the right side and the 51 modifier is to indicate multiple
procedures performed at same session.
◍ A surgeon performed a transthoracic median sternotomy for exploration of
the space around the lung sacs and for drainage of fluid, caused by
pneumonia. What is/are the appropriate code(s) for this scenario?.
Answer: 39010:Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for
Mediastinum/Exploration which directs us to codes 39000-39010, 60505.
Code selection is made based on the approach used. In this case, it is a
transthoracic approach making 39010 the correct code. Drainage of fluid is
already included in the code and is not separately reportable
◍ 18-month-old patient is seen in the ED unable to breathe due to a toy he
swallowed which had lodged in his throat. Soon brain death will occur if an
airway is not established immediately. The ED physician performs an
emergency transtracheal tracheostomy. What CPT® and ICD-10-CM codes
are reported?.
Answer: 31603, T17.290A:Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for
Tracheostomy/Emergency and you are directed to code range 31603-31605.
Code selection is based on the approach. In this case, the approach is
transtracheal making 31603 the correct code choice. Because the toy is a
foreign body that was lodged in his throat, in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic
Index look for Foreign Body/pharynx/causing/asphyxiation/specified type
NEC and you are directed to T17.290. The foreign body was causing an
obstruction or suffocation in the respiratory tract. Verification in the Tabular
List indicates that the code requires seven characters. 7th character A, initial
encounter, is the correct choice because this is an emergency department
encounter.
◍ A 20-year-old patient is seen for 5 transbronchial lung biopsies of 2 separate
lobes. One biopsy is taken in one lobe and 4 biopsies in another lobe. What
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Benefits Counseling and Benefits Analysis.
Answer: Services provided to assist an individual in understanding options
and possibilities in order to make an informed choice about going to work.
These services result in a report informed choice about employment.
◍ Business Proposals (Job Carving):.
Answer: The process of listing the key components of jobs and employment
needs to develop a written proposal for an employer on how those needs can
be met. A proposal typically includes language identifying job tasks for
increased work efficiencies and the matching of an individual's skills with
workplace needs This process can result in either job restructuring or job
creation.
◍ The provider performs a diagnostic thoracoscopy followed by the
thoracoscopic excision of a pericardial cyst. What CPT® code(s) is/are
reported?.
Answer: 32661 In the CPT® Index look for Thoracoscopy/Surgical/with
Excision Pericardial Cyst, Tumor and/or Mass and you are directed to
32661.
◍ A patient's nose was hit with a baseball during a high school baseball game.
At that time reconstruction was performed with local grafts. Patient returns
now as an adult, discontent with the bony prominence along the bony
pyramid and flat look of the tip of the nose. He underwent major repair with
osteotomies and nasal tip work. What CPT® code is reported?.
Answer: 30450:Rationale: The procedure performed now is a secondary
rhinoplasty due to unfavorable results from the initial rhinoplasty. In the
, CPT® Index look for Rhinoplasty/Secondary directing you to code range
30430-30450. Code selection is based on the reason for the repair and the
extensiveness of the repair. 30450 reports a major secondary revision
including osteotomies and nasal tip work
◍ Career Seeker Portfolio.
Answer: A job-hunting tool that developed to provide employers a complete
picture of the job seekers experience, education, accomplishments, skill sets,
and potential.
◍ Competitive Employment.
Answer: Work performed in the integrated labor market in which the
individual is compensated at or above minimum wage, but not less than the
customary wage and benefits paid for the same or similar work performed
by individuals who do not have a disability.
◍ Employment First.
Answer: The philosophy that presumes employability of all people in the
community regardless of disability.
◍ A patient with AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) has just learned his
sister is an HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) match for him. Stem cells
taken from the donor (the patient's sister) will be transplanted into the
patient to help with his treatment. What CPT® code is used to report the
harvesting of the stem cells from the donor (his sister)?.
Answer: 38205:Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for Stem
Cell/Harvesting. This directs you to code range 38205, 38206. Code
selection is based on whether it is allogenic (from a donor) or autologous
(from the patient). This is allogenic making 38205 the correct code choice.
◍ Employment First Components.
Answer: Being the first and preferred outcome for working-age youth and
adults with disabilities, including those with complex and significant
disabilities, for whom working in the past has been limited, or has not
traditionally occurred.
,◍ A patient is seen in the OR for removal of a hepatic adenoma, which has
invaded the diaphragm. The resection of the diaphragm portion of the mass
was repaired with primary sutures. What CPT® code is reported for the
diaphragmatic mass resection.
Answer: 39560: Rationale: In the CPT® Index, look up
Resection/Diaphragm, which directs you to code range 39560-39561. Code
selection depends on the type of repair. The repair is with primary sutures
which is considered a simple repair making 39560 the correct code choice.
◍ Employment First Component.
Answer: Using typical or customized employment techniques to secure
membership in the workforce, where employees with disabilities are
included on the payroll of a competitive business or industry or are self-
employed business owners.
◍ A 43-year-old female is seen in the emergency room with severe epistaxis.
She said this is a common occurrence for her during the cold dry months of
winter and this is why she is here for the third time this week. Extensive
bilateral posterior cautery and packing is again required to control the
hemorrhage. What CPT® code is reported for the procedure? (Note: Do not
code the E/M).
Answer: 30906-50:Rationale: Epistaxis is the term for nasal hemorrhage. In
the CPT® Index, look up Packing, Nasal Hemorrhage and you are directed
to code range 30901-30906. Code selection is determined by whether the
procedure is posterior or anterior. This is posterior and is subsequent making
the correct code 30906. Modifier 50 indicates this was done bilaterally.
◍ An operative report lists excisional bilateral biopsies of deep cervical nodes
and biopsy of right deep axillary nodes as the procedures performed. The
pathology report comes back confirming lymphadenitis. What CPT® codes
are reported?.
Answer: 38510-50, 38525-51-RT:Rationale: In the CPT® Index, look under
Lymph Nodes/Biopsy and you are directed to a series of codes. Turn to
codes 38500 and 38510-38530. Code 38510 represents the deep cervical
, nodes and the 50 modifier indicates that they were excised bilaterally. Next,
look to code 38525. This code is appropriate for reporting the deep axillary
nodes excised. The RT modifier indicates these lymph nodes were taken
only from the right side and the 51 modifier is to indicate multiple
procedures performed at same session.
◍ A surgeon performed a transthoracic median sternotomy for exploration of
the space around the lung sacs and for drainage of fluid, caused by
pneumonia. What is/are the appropriate code(s) for this scenario?.
Answer: 39010:Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for
Mediastinum/Exploration which directs us to codes 39000-39010, 60505.
Code selection is made based on the approach used. In this case, it is a
transthoracic approach making 39010 the correct code. Drainage of fluid is
already included in the code and is not separately reportable
◍ 18-month-old patient is seen in the ED unable to breathe due to a toy he
swallowed which had lodged in his throat. Soon brain death will occur if an
airway is not established immediately. The ED physician performs an
emergency transtracheal tracheostomy. What CPT® and ICD-10-CM codes
are reported?.
Answer: 31603, T17.290A:Rationale: In the CPT® Index look for
Tracheostomy/Emergency and you are directed to code range 31603-31605.
Code selection is based on the approach. In this case, the approach is
transtracheal making 31603 the correct code choice. Because the toy is a
foreign body that was lodged in his throat, in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic
Index look for Foreign Body/pharynx/causing/asphyxiation/specified type
NEC and you are directed to T17.290. The foreign body was causing an
obstruction or suffocation in the respiratory tract. Verification in the Tabular
List indicates that the code requires seven characters. 7th character A, initial
encounter, is the correct choice because this is an emergency department
encounter.
◍ A 20-year-old patient is seen for 5 transbronchial lung biopsies of 2 separate
lobes. One biopsy is taken in one lobe and 4 biopsies in another lobe. What
