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AAPC Exam CPC Topic 2 Question 29 Discussion

Actual exam question for AAPC's Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam exam
Question #: 29
Topic #: 2
[All Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam Questions]

View MR 099405

MR 099405

CC: Shortness of breath

HPI: 16-year-old female comes into the ED for shortness of breath for the last two days. She is an asthmatic.

Current medications being used to treat symptoms is Advair, which is not working and breathing is getting worse. Does not feel that Advair has been helping. Patient tried Albuterol for persistent coughing, is not helping. Coughing 10-15 minutes at a time. Patient has used the Albuterol 3x in the last 16 hrs. ED physician admits her to observation status.

ROS: No fever, no headache. No purulent discharge from the eyes. No earache. No nasal discharge or sore throat. No swollen glands in the neck. No palpitations. Dyspnea and cough. Some chest pain. No nausea or vomiting. No abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation.

PMH: Asthma

SH: Lives with both parents.

FH: Family hx of asthma, paternal side

ALLERGIES: PCN-200 CAPS. Allergies have been reviewed with child's family and no changes reported.

PE: General appearance: normal, alert. Talks in sentences. Pink lips and cheeks. Oriented. Well developed. Well nourished. Well hydrated.

Eyes: normal. External eye: no hyperemia of the conjunctiv

a. No discharge from the conjunctiva

Ears: general/bilateral. TM: normal. Nose: rhinorrhea. Pharynx/Oropharynx: normal. Neck: normal.

Lymph nodes: normal.

Lungs: before Albuterol neb, mode air entry b/l. No rales, rhonchi or wheezes. After Albuterol neb. improvement of air entry b/l. Respiratory movements were normal. No intercostals inspiratory retraction was observed.

Cardiovascular system: normal. Heart rate and rhythm normal. Heart sounds normal. No murmurs were heard.

GI: abdomen normal with no tenderness or masses. Normal bowel sounds. No hepatosplenomegaly

Skin: normal warm and dry. Pink well perfused

Musculoskeletal system patient indicates lower to mid back pain when she lies down on her back and when she rolls over. No CVA tenderness.

Assessment: Asthma, acute exacerbation

Plan: Will keep her in observation overnight. Will administer oral steroids and breathing treatment. CXR ordered and to be taken in the morning.

What E/M code is reported?

Show Suggested Answer Hide Answer
Suggested Answer: D

99222: This code is used for initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires a detailed or comprehensive history, a detailed or comprehensive examination, and medical decision making of moderate complexity.

The documentation shows a detailed history (including HPI, ROS, PMH, SH, and FH) and a detailed examination (covering multiple organ systems). The medical decision making involves the management of an acute asthma exacerbation, which includes admitting the patient to observation status, administering oral steroids, and planning for further diagnostic testing.


CPT Professional Edition, AMA

Contribute your Thoughts:

Annalee
23 days ago
Haha, I hope the patient doesn't have to stay too long in the hospital. That back pain sounds like a real pain in the... (ahem) anyway, I'd go with 99222 for this case.
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Stephanie
4 days ago
I'm leaning towards 99222 as well, it seems to match the level of complexity in this scenario.
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Lashanda
6 days ago
Yeah, I think 99222 fits well considering the patient's condition and the plan for observation overnight.
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Lezlie
11 days ago
Yeah, I think so too. The patient's condition definitely warrants that level of care.
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Latonia
11 days ago
I agree, 99222 seems like the most appropriate E/M code for this case.
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Bobbie
19 days ago
I agree, 99222 seems like the right choice for this case.
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Dana
1 months ago
The description of the patient's symptoms and the physician's plan to keep her in observation overnight suggests a higher level of care, so my answer is 99285.
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Chau
1 months ago
This looks like a classic case of asthma exacerbation. The E/M code should be 99222 since the patient was admitted for observation overnight.
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Alberto
5 days ago
Yes, 99222 is the correct E/M code for this case.
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Rueben
20 days ago
I agree, the E/M code should be 99222 for observation overnight.
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Delbert
1 months ago
I believe the correct E/M code is 99285 because the patient's condition requires a comprehensive level of care.
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Dominque
2 months ago
I agree, the patient is being admitted for observation overnight and receiving oral steroids and breathing treatment.
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Leonora
2 months ago
I think the E/M code reported should be 99285.
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