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AAPC Exam CPC Topic 3 Question 27 Discussion

Actual exam question for AAPC's CPC exam
Question #: 27
Topic #: 3
[All CPC 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:

Salina
4 months ago
You know, this reminds me of that one time I had to code for a patient who came in with a case of the 'I-can't-breathe-nosis'. Good times, good times.
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Annmarie
2 months ago
D) 99222
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Janae
2 months ago
C) 99285
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Kimbery
2 months ago
B) 99284
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Yolando
3 months ago
A) 99221
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Ronny
4 months ago
This is a tough one, but I'm leaning towards 99285. The patient's got a lot going on, and the physician's really putting in the work.
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Erasmo
2 months ago
I agree, 99285 makes sense considering the complexity of the case and the level of care provided.
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Shelba
2 months ago
Yeah, the doctor is definitely taking a thorough approach with the observation and treatment plan.
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Pearly
3 months ago
I think 99285 is the right code too. The patient's condition seems pretty serious.
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Dante
3 months ago
I would also go with 99285. The physician is admitting the patient for observation and ordering additional tests.
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Mariann
3 months ago
Yeah, I agree. The physician is definitely putting in a lot of effort to treat the patient.
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Serita
3 months ago
I think 99285 is the right code too. The patient's condition seems pretty serious.
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Emerson
4 months ago
I'm not sure, but I think 99284 could also be a possible option considering the observation status and treatment plan.
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Freeman
4 months ago
Wait, did you see the part about the Albuterol treatment? That sounds like they went the extra mile, so I'd go with 99284.
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Laurel
3 months ago
Definitely, 99284 seems like the most appropriate E/M code for this scenario.
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Noel
4 months ago
Yeah, 99284 makes sense considering the extra treatment provided.
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Louis
4 months ago
I agree, the Albuterol treatment shows they went above and beyond.
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Hillary
4 months ago
I think 99284 is the right code for this case.
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Giuseppe
4 months ago
I agree with you, 99285 seems like the correct code based on the patient's condition.
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Viva
4 months ago
Hmm, this one's tricky. The patient's admitted to observation status, so I'm thinking 99222 might be the right code.
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Magdalene
4 months ago
Yeah, I agree. The patient being admitted to observation status does point towards 99222 as the correct E/M code.
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Miriam
4 months ago
I think you might be right, 99222 does seem like the appropriate code for this scenario.
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Carissa
5 months ago
I think the E/M code reported should be 99285.
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