Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Practice Test

When coding for a cardiology consultation for an inpatient, the correct choice reflects the complexity and nature of the visit. In this case, the option referring to 99255 is appropriate as it denotes a comprehensive consultation for a patient with issues such as chest pain and dyspnea. The code 99255 is part of the Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding system, specifically for consultations. It represents a high level of medical decision-making and involves a detailed history, examination, and decision-making process. Given that the patient is 60 years old and experiencing significant symptoms (chest pain and dyspnea), the situation likely involves complexities that warrant a higher level of service, which aligns with the criteria for this particular code. Other options relate to different coding scenarios. For instance, 99325 indicates an established patient visit at a lower level of complexity, which would not fully capture the situation discussed. The code 69436-50 does not pertain to consultations but rather to specific procedures, making it irrelevant here. Lastly, 686.9 refers to unspecified skin disease, which is incorrect for a cardiology consultation and does not relate to the presented symptoms. Therefore, the selection of 99255 is supported due to its alignment with