Ace Your CPC Exam: Expert Breakdown of Practice Questions

This paragraph introduces the topic of medical coding, specifically focusing on strategies for acing the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam. Victoria Mull, a medical coder, auditor, educator, and content creator, offers advice on exam preparation. She emphasizes the importance of not just memorizing codes but also understanding the exam's structure and using effective test-taking strategies. Techniques such as scanning the question to identify what's being asked, using the process of elimination, and understanding the guidelines are highlighted. The paragraph also mentions common areas where test-takers may struggle, such as evaluation and management (E/M), obstetrics, and fracture care, urging test-takers to focus on these areas in their studies.

This section provides an overview of the Medicare program, detailing its different parts (A, B, C, and D) and what each part covers. It then delves into specific coding scenarios, such as a patient with type 2 diabetes undergoing a foot exam and a patient diagnosed with malignant neoplasm of the breast. The speaker explains how to identify the correct ICD-10-CM codes for these scenarios, highlighting the importance of understanding the context of the medical condition and the specifics of the procedure. The paragraph also touches on the concept of risk assessment in coding, where the coder must decide whether to look up every detail or trust their knowledge to save time.

This paragraph continues the discussion on coding, focusing on cases like acute bronchitis due to mycoplasma pneumonia and a closed fracture of the orbital floor. The speaker guides the audience through the process of identifying the correct ICD-10-CM codes for these conditions, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the main term and using the alphabetic index effectively. The section also covers how to handle coding for a prophylactic mastectomy, which is a preventive measure rather than a treatment for active cancer, and how to differentiate this in coding from an active cancer case.

The paragraph discusses the coding for a patient with acute transmural myocardial infarction who undergoes percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The speaker explains the process of identifying the correct CPT and ICD-10-CM codes for this scenario, including the use of resequenced codes and the distinction between different types of coronary artery procedures. The summary also touches on the coding for a prophylactic removal of the breast in a patient with a history of breast cancer, highlighting the difference between active cancer and preventive measures.

In the final paragraph, the speaker encourages practice and continued learning for those preparing for the CPC exam. She offers resources such as a comprehensive CPC review and practice exam available on her website, as well as a free playlist covering various aspects of medical coding. The paragraph concludes with a motivational note, urging viewers to keep practicing their coding skills and assuring them that they are on the right path to becoming coding professionals.