CPCS CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ Adrenal means: Answer: Near the kidneys
Response Feedback:
Rationale: Adrenal means near the kidneys; the adrenal glands are above
each kidney.
⩥ A 42-year-old male with thyroid cancer is admitted to the hospital for
hypersecretion of calcitonin (functional activity) caused by the cancer.
Choose the ICD-10-CM code(s) to report. Answer: C73, E07.0
Response Feedback:
Rationale: When a patient has functional activity (thyrotoxicosis or
disorders of thyrocalcitonin secretion) associated with a neoplasm, the
neoplasm should be reported first and the functional activity caused by
the neoplasm is reported as a secondary code. There is no documentation
of the patient having a history of other cancers so a Z code is not
appropriate. In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, look for
Carcinoma/thyroid; there is no listing in the Alphabetic Index. Use the
instruction - see also Neoplasm, by site, malignant which is next to
Carcinoma. In the Table of Neoplasms, locate Neoplasm,
neoplastic/thyroid (gland)/Malignant Primary (column) directing you to
,code C73. In the Tabular List, C73 states to "Use additional code to
identify any functional activity." The second diagnosis code is in the
Alphabetic Index under Hypersecretion/calcitonin directing you to code
E07.0. Verify code selection in the Tabular List.
⩥ Select the code for a patient diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis crisis with
an overactive nodular goiter. Answer: E05.21
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The diagnosis is indexed under
Thyrotoxicosis/with/goiter/nodular/with thyroid storm guiding you to
code E05.21. Verification in tabular indicates E05.21 is correct code
(thyroid crisis/storm). Verify code selection in the Tabular List.
⩥ A college student goes to the ER with symptoms of headache and high
fever for the past two days. A Lumbar Puncture is performed and spinal
fluid is sent to the lab to check for meningitis. What CPT® code is
reported for this surgery? Answer: 62270
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The patient is not having an injection or an aspiration of
contents found in the nucleus pulposus, intervertebral disc, or
paravertebral tissue. The procedure is a spinal puncture in the lumbar
area to determine if the patient has meningitis. Look in the CPT Index
for Spinal Tap/Lumbar guiding you to code 62270. Verify the code in the
Nervous System section.
, ⩥ A 59-year-old female with failed back syndrome has undergone a
recent test dose of intrathecal narcotics with good pain response. She is
brought to the operating room for preparation and insertion of Medtronic
programmable pain pump and intrathecal catheter. What CPT® codes
are reported for this surgery? Answer: 62362, 62350-51
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The patient is having an insertion of a programmable pump
and an intrathecal catheter implanted to infuse pain meds for pain
management. An infusion of pain medications is not performed. Look in
the CPT Index for Infusion Pump/Spinal Cord guiding you to codes
62361-62362. Look in the CPT Index for Catheterization/Spinal Cord
guiding you to codes 62350-62351 for the second code. Look in the
Nervous System section to select the correct code.
⩥ A 50-year-old with left internal carotid artery stenosis presents for a
left carotid thromboendarterectomy with electroencephalogram
monitoring. Electroencephalogram (EEG) leads were placed on his head
prior to surgery. Throughout the procedure, EEG patterns were
symmetrical. What CPT® code is reported for this EEG Monitoring?
Answer: 95955-26
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The physician is using an EEG to record and measure the
patient's brain electrical activity while performing the
thromboendarterectomy (not intracranial surgery). Look in the CPT
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ Adrenal means: Answer: Near the kidneys
Response Feedback:
Rationale: Adrenal means near the kidneys; the adrenal glands are above
each kidney.
⩥ A 42-year-old male with thyroid cancer is admitted to the hospital for
hypersecretion of calcitonin (functional activity) caused by the cancer.
Choose the ICD-10-CM code(s) to report. Answer: C73, E07.0
Response Feedback:
Rationale: When a patient has functional activity (thyrotoxicosis or
disorders of thyrocalcitonin secretion) associated with a neoplasm, the
neoplasm should be reported first and the functional activity caused by
the neoplasm is reported as a secondary code. There is no documentation
of the patient having a history of other cancers so a Z code is not
appropriate. In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, look for
Carcinoma/thyroid; there is no listing in the Alphabetic Index. Use the
instruction - see also Neoplasm, by site, malignant which is next to
Carcinoma. In the Table of Neoplasms, locate Neoplasm,
neoplastic/thyroid (gland)/Malignant Primary (column) directing you to
,code C73. In the Tabular List, C73 states to "Use additional code to
identify any functional activity." The second diagnosis code is in the
Alphabetic Index under Hypersecretion/calcitonin directing you to code
E07.0. Verify code selection in the Tabular List.
⩥ Select the code for a patient diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis crisis with
an overactive nodular goiter. Answer: E05.21
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The diagnosis is indexed under
Thyrotoxicosis/with/goiter/nodular/with thyroid storm guiding you to
code E05.21. Verification in tabular indicates E05.21 is correct code
(thyroid crisis/storm). Verify code selection in the Tabular List.
⩥ A college student goes to the ER with symptoms of headache and high
fever for the past two days. A Lumbar Puncture is performed and spinal
fluid is sent to the lab to check for meningitis. What CPT® code is
reported for this surgery? Answer: 62270
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The patient is not having an injection or an aspiration of
contents found in the nucleus pulposus, intervertebral disc, or
paravertebral tissue. The procedure is a spinal puncture in the lumbar
area to determine if the patient has meningitis. Look in the CPT Index
for Spinal Tap/Lumbar guiding you to code 62270. Verify the code in the
Nervous System section.
, ⩥ A 59-year-old female with failed back syndrome has undergone a
recent test dose of intrathecal narcotics with good pain response. She is
brought to the operating room for preparation and insertion of Medtronic
programmable pain pump and intrathecal catheter. What CPT® codes
are reported for this surgery? Answer: 62362, 62350-51
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The patient is having an insertion of a programmable pump
and an intrathecal catheter implanted to infuse pain meds for pain
management. An infusion of pain medications is not performed. Look in
the CPT Index for Infusion Pump/Spinal Cord guiding you to codes
62361-62362. Look in the CPT Index for Catheterization/Spinal Cord
guiding you to codes 62350-62351 for the second code. Look in the
Nervous System section to select the correct code.
⩥ A 50-year-old with left internal carotid artery stenosis presents for a
left carotid thromboendarterectomy with electroencephalogram
monitoring. Electroencephalogram (EEG) leads were placed on his head
prior to surgery. Throughout the procedure, EEG patterns were
symmetrical. What CPT® code is reported for this EEG Monitoring?
Answer: 95955-26
Response Feedback:
Rationale: The physician is using an EEG to record and measure the
patient's brain electrical activity while performing the
thromboendarterectomy (not intracranial surgery). Look in the CPT
