Medical Coding Mock Exams Advanced Topics
Advanced Coding Scenarios
NEOPLASM CODING:
Step 1: Determine behavior — malignant primary, malignant secondary, in situ, benign, uncertain
Step 2: Find in Neoplasm Table by site
Step 3: Select appropriate column
Step 4: Verify in Tabular List
SEQUENCING FOR MALIGNANCY:
Primary site actively treated: sequence primary first
Metastatic site being treated: sequence metastasis + primary secondary
History of cancer, no current treatment: use Z85.xxx (personal history)
Prophylactic surgery (family history): Z80.xxx (family history)
CODING TREATMENT COMPLICATIONS:
Anemia due to chemotherapy: D64.81 (anemia) + T45.1x5A (adverse effect)
Nausea from chemo: R11.0 + T45.1x5A (adverse effect, initial encounter)
Dehydration after radiation: E86.0 + Y84.2 (radiation therapy complication)
OBSTETRIC CODING (O codes):
7th character = trimester:
1 = first (< 14 weeks) | 2 = second (14-27 weeks)
3 = third (28+ weeks) | 0 = unspecified trimester
A/B/C: fetus (for multiple gestations, identify which fetus affected)
At delivery: O codes sequenced first (even if C/S complication is reason for admission)
O80: normal delivery (all criteria must be met: single liveborn, no complications)
O82: cesarean section (use when no specific complication code exists)
Z3A.xx: Weeks of gestation (use as additional code when O code present)
Z37.0: Single liveborn infant, born in hospital (required at delivery)
HIV CODING:
B20: HIV disease (symptomatic) — sequence FIRST even if treating another condition
Z21: Asymptomatic HIV infection — positive status, no symptoms or AIDS
Do NOT code inconclusive test as B20 — code the test result or symptom instead
Confirmation: by provider statement, not just lab resultCompliance and Audit Readiness
DOCUMENTATION AUDIT CHECKLIST:
☐ Legible, dated, signed with credentials
☐ Chief complaint/reason for visit documented
☐ Diagnoses supported by documentation (not just in problem list)
☐ Procedures match operative report and claim
☐ Modifiers supported by documentation
☐ E&M level supported by MDM or total time documented
☐ No copy-paste without update (EHR cloning risk)
☐ Addenda properly dated, signed, and labelled
RAC AUDIT RED FLAGS:
High-level E&M for all visits (99215 every encounter)
Billing both global and component procedure codes
Unbundled procedures (NCCI violation)
Modifier -25 without supporting documentation
Diagnoses not reflecting current visit (using inactive problem list)
INTERNAL AUDIT PROCESS:
Pre-payment: before claim submission (most effective)
Post-payment: random sample of paid claims (retrospective)
Targeted: focus on high-risk areas identified by OIG Work Plan
External: hire outside firm for objective assessment
Track: denial rate, error rate by coder, by payer, by procedure typeStudy Resources
•OIG Work Plan (oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/workplan) — annual audit targets
•AHA Coding Clinic — quarterly ICD-10-CM guidance (subscription)
•CPT Assistant (AMA) — monthly CPT guidance (subscription)
•AAPC Medical Coding Solutions — practice management and compliance tools

