AAPC & AHIMA Medical Coding Daily Quiz: Friday, Feb 20, 2026

Boost your CPC & CCS exam prep with our Feb 20, 2026, Medical Coding Daily Quiz. Real exam-style MCQs with expert explanations to help you pass on the first try!

 

Happy Friday, Coding Warriors! ☕

Welcome to your daily dose of coding precision. Whether you are grinding for the AAPC CPC exam or mastering the AHIMA CCS/CCA credentials, consistency is your secret weapon.

Small, daily wins lead to big certification badges. Today’s quiz focuses on real-world scenarios you’ll face in the exam room and on the job. Let’s shake off the weekday fatigue and get those codes right!

Challenge: Don't peek at the answers yet! Grab your CPT and ICD-10-CM manuals, and let's see if you can go 5-for-5.

 

AAPC & AHIMA Medical Coding Daily Quiz: Friday, Feb 20, 2026

📝 Today’s Quiz: Test Your Coding Logic

Q1. A 45-year-old patient presents for a screening colonoscopy. During the procedure, the gastroenterologist finds a polyp in the sigmoid colon and removes it via snare technique. How is this coded? 

A) 45378 

B) 45385 

C) 45380 

D) 45384

Q2. Which of the following modifiers is used when a surgical procedure is discontinued after the administration of anesthesia due to the patient's safety? 

A) Modifier 52 

B) Modifier 53 

C) Modifier 73 

D) Modifier 74

Q3. A patient is diagnosed with "Acute and Chronic Cholecystitis with Cholelithiasis." Following ICD-10-CM sequencing guidelines, how should this be reported? 

A) Report only the acute code. 

B) Report only the chronic code. 

C) Report the acute code first, followed by the chronic code. 

D) Report the chronic code first, followed by the acute code.

Q4. An established patient visits her Primary Care Physician for a blood pressure check. The nurse performs the check. The physician is in the building but does not see the patient. What is the appropriate E/M code? 

A) 99211 

B) 99212 

C) 99213 

D) This is non-billable.

Q5. In the CPT Manual, what does the "bullseye" symbol (⦿) next to a code indicate? 

A) New code 

B) Revised code 

C) Add-on code 

D) Moderate sedation is included

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✅ Answer Key & Explanations

Q1. Correct Answer: B (45385)

Explanation: In CPT, 45385 specifically refers to a colonoscopy with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by snare technique. Since a polyp was found and removed during a screening, the "screening" code (45378) is no longer used; the surgical code takes precedence.

Q2. Correct Answer: B (Modifier 53)

Explanation: Modifier 53 is used by physicians to report a discontinued procedure due to unexpected circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient. Note: Modifiers 73/74 are for facility use only.

Q3. Correct Answer: C (Acute code first, then Chronic)

Explanation: According to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, if the same condition is described as both acute (subacute) and chronic, and separate subentries exist in the Alphabetic Index at the same indentation level, the acute code is sequenced first.

Q4. Correct Answer: A (99211)

Explanation: 99211 is the "nurse visit" code. It does not require the presence of the physician in the room, but the physician must be in the office suite to satisfy "Incident To" guidelines for reimbursement.

Q5. Correct Answer: D (Moderate sedation is included)

Explanation: The bullseye symbol identifies procedures that include moderate sedation as an inherent part of the service. Pro-tip: Always check the CPT Appendix G (though recently updated/moved, the symbol knowledge remains vital for the exam).

 

💡 Expert Exam Tip of the Day

Master the "Nests": When taking the CPC or CCS exam, always look at the parent code first. If you are looking at an indented code, it shares the description of the parent code up to the semicolon. Reading the parent code carefully prevents you from picking a code that describes the wrong body part or approach!

 

🏁 Stay Ahead of the Curve

The medical coding field is booming in 2026, with average salaries for certified coders increasing by 8% this year. Don't leave your career to chance.

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