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AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) Practice Test

AHIMA CCS Practice Test

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Questions updated at Aug 21, 2026, 11:53 PM CDT

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Today's 10 AHIMA CCS questions

Use this AHIMA CCS practice test to review AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist. Questions rotate daily and each answer links back to the source used to write it.

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200 verified questions are in the live bank. Free daily questions are selected from a rotating sample set. Unlock Pro to access the full question bank.

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Question 1 of 10
Objective Identify PSI and HAC reporting issues 4. Regulatory Compliance (18–22%)

A coder cannot determine from the record whether a selected HAC diagnosis was present on admission. What should happen?

Concept tested:
Source:FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
Question 2 of 10
Objective Use encoder and grouper software appropriately 5. Information Technologies (9–11%)

A grouper labels a secondary diagnosis as an MCC but the coder discovers the diagnosis is unsupported. What should happen?

Concept tested:
Question 3 of 10
Objective Identify an ethical compliant query 3. Provider Queries (9–11%)

A query asks the provider to clarify the type of encephalopathy. Which construction is most compliant?

Concept tested:
Question 4 of 10
Objective Resolve conflicting documentation 2. Coding Documentation (18–22%)

An EHR interface imported an old diagnosis of acute respiratory failure into the current encounter, but the current provider documentation says the patient has no respiratory failure. What should the coder do?

Concept tested:
Question 5 of 10
Objective Apply UHDDS data definitions 4. Regulatory Compliance (18–22%)

Which setting is the UHDDS principal-diagnosis definition designed for?

Concept tested:
Question 6 of 10
Objective Apply CPT and HCPCS modifiers 1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39–41%)

Two procedures that are normally bundled are performed during the same outpatient encounter on separate, noncontiguous lesions in different anatomic regions. The edit allows an NCCI-associated modifier. What is the best modifier strategy?

Concept tested:
Question 7 of 10
Objective Verify required documentation is present 2. Coding Documentation (18–22%)

An inpatient is being coded for a procedure that includes a graft. The operative report names the graft material. What should the coder verify before selecting a PCS device value?

Concept tested:
Question 8 of 10
Objective Identify MCC and CC impact 1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39–41%)

A secondary diagnosis is documented and reportable but is neither a CC nor an MCC. What is the correct coding action?

Concept tested:
Question 9 of 10
Objective Distinguish EHR types and functions 5. Information Technologies (9–11%)

A hospital is replacing an isolated departmental record with a longitudinal system designed to make patient information available across authorized care settings. Which characteristic most strongly reflects an EHR rather than a narrowly local electronic record?

Concept tested:
Question 10 of 10
Objective Recognize a leading query 3. Provider Queries (9–11%)

A query lists only 'acute respiratory failure' as a response to hypoxemia and oxygen use, despite other clinically reasonable explanations being present. Why is this problematic?

Concept tested:
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The free daily AHIMA CCS set includes crawlable question text, answer choices, correct answer labels, objective mapping, and source links. Only the first SEO card includes answer explanations and any extra learning features. Pro-only bank questions stay locked; this section mirrors only the 10 free daily questions already shown on this page.

Question 1 A coder cannot determine from the record whether a selected HAC diagnosis was present on admission. What should happen?

Answer choices

  1. A. Seek provider clarification when appropriate and use the applicable POA indicator based on the resolved documentation
  2. B. Automatically use Y to protect reimbursement
  3. C. Automatically use N because the condition is a HAC
  4. D. Delete the diagnosis

Correct answer

Seek provider clarification when appropriate and use the applicable POA indicator based on the resolved documentation

POA should be supported by the record; unclear timing should be clarified rather than payment-driven.

Wrong-answer review

  • B. Automatically use Y to protect reimbursement: Y cannot be selected for financial protection.
  • C. Automatically use N because the condition is a HAC: N cannot be presumed from HAC status.
  • D. Delete the diagnosis: A valid reportable diagnosis should not be deleted because timing is unclear.

Extra learning features

Why candidates miss this

The distractor ‘Automatically use Y to protect reimbursement’ is tempting because it represents a common attempt to mitigate financial risk. However, this approach ignores the core principle of POA determination, which relies on documented clinical evidence and not solely on payment protection. The decisive clue is the emphasis on ‘resolved documentation’ in the correct answer, highlighting the need for verifiable proof rather than a presumption. Likely wrong answer: Automatically use Y to protect reimbursement Review focus: FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Objective/domain: 4. Regulatory Compliance (18–22%)

Source: FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Question 2 A grouper labels a secondary diagnosis as an MCC but the coder discovers the diagnosis is unsupported. What should happen?

Answer choices

  1. A. Keep it because the grouper confirmed MCC status
  2. B. Ask the grouper to choose another MCC automatically
  3. C. Change the principal diagnosis to preserve the same DRG
  4. D. Remove/correct the unsupported diagnosis and regroup the case

Correct answer

Remove/correct the unsupported diagnosis and regroup the case

Objective/domain: 5. Information Technologies (9–11%)

Source: AHIMA Code of Ethics and Standards of Ethical Coding

Question 3 A query asks the provider to clarify the type of encephalopathy. Which construction is most compliant?

Answer choices

  1. A. List only the diagnosis that would increase the MS-DRG
  2. B. State 'Please document metabolic encephalopathy' after listing abnormal labs
  3. C. Omit all clinical indicators so the provider is not influenced
  4. D. Present the relevant clinical indicators and clinically reasonable supported options, including 'other' when appropriate, without highlighting a preferred answer

Correct answer

Present the relevant clinical indicators and clinically reasonable supported options, including 'other' when appropriate, without highlighting a preferred answer

Objective/domain: 3. Provider Queries (9–11%)

Source: Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2022 Update)

Question 4 An EHR interface imported an old diagnosis of acute respiratory failure into the current encounter, but the current provider documentation says the patient has no respiratory failure. What should the coder do?

Answer choices

  1. A. Code respiratory failure because structured fields supersede narrative notes
  2. B. Keep the diagnosis if the encoder recommends it
  3. C. Report it only because it would be an MCC
  4. D. Do not rely on the imported diagnosis; validate against current source documentation and resolve any true conflict

Correct answer

Do not rely on the imported diagnosis; validate against current source documentation and resolve any true conflict

Objective/domain: 2. Coding Documentation (18–22%)

Source: AHIMA Code of Ethics and Standards of Ethical Coding

Question 5 Which setting is the UHDDS principal-diagnosis definition designed for?

Answer choices

  1. A. Every physician office visit
  2. B. Only retail pharmacy claims
  3. C. All outpatient laboratory encounters
  4. D. Hospital inpatient reporting

Correct answer

Hospital inpatient reporting

Objective/domain: 4. Regulatory Compliance (18–22%)

Source: FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Question 6 Two procedures that are normally bundled are performed during the same outpatient encounter on separate, noncontiguous lesions in different anatomic regions. The edit allows an NCCI-associated modifier. What is the best modifier strategy?

Answer choices

  1. A. Use modifier 59 automatically whenever an edit is present.
  2. B. Use the most specific applicable NCCI-associated modifier, such as XS for a separate structure; use modifier 59 only when no more descriptive modifier applies.
  3. C. Use modifier 25 on the procedural code pair.
  4. D. Omit documentation because the edit indicator itself proves the services were distinct.

Correct answer

Use the most specific applicable NCCI-associated modifier, such as XS for a separate structure; use modifier 59 only when no more descriptive modifier applies.

Objective/domain: 1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39–41%)

Source: 2026 Medicare NCCI Policy Manual

Question 7 An inpatient is being coded for a procedure that includes a graft. The operative report names the graft material. What should the coder verify before selecting a PCS device value?

Answer choices

  1. A. Whether the material meets the PCS definition of a device that remains after the procedure and the correct table value
  2. B. Whether the manufacturer advertises it as a premium implant
  3. C. Whether the graft increases the DRG
  4. D. Whether a CPT modifier can substitute for the PCS device character

Correct answer

Whether the material meets the PCS definition of a device that remains after the procedure and the correct table value

Objective/domain: 2. Coding Documentation (18–22%)

Source: April 1, 2026 ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Question 8 A secondary diagnosis is documented and reportable but is neither a CC nor an MCC. What is the correct coding action?

Answer choices

  1. A. Omit it because it cannot affect the MS-DRG
  2. B. Report it when required even though it does not increase severity
  3. C. Replace it with a related CC code
  4. D. Ask the provider to restate it using a more severe term

Correct answer

Report it when required even though it does not increase severity

Objective/domain: 1. Coding Knowledge and Skills (39–41%)

Source: AHIMA Code of Ethics and Standards of Ethical Coding

Question 9 A hospital is replacing an isolated departmental record with a longitudinal system designed to make patient information available across authorized care settings. Which characteristic most strongly reflects an EHR rather than a narrowly local electronic record?

Answer choices

  1. A. Longitudinal health information designed for authorized exchange and use across care settings
  2. B. A billing-only database with no clinical information
  3. C. A single scanned PDF of one encounter
  4. D. An encoder that only suggests diagnosis codes

Correct answer

Longitudinal health information designed for authorized exchange and use across care settings

Objective/domain: 5. Information Technologies (9–11%)

Source: ONC Electronic Health Records and Their Benefits

Question 10 A query lists only 'acute respiratory failure' as a response to hypoxemia and oxygen use, despite other clinically reasonable explanations being present. Why is this problematic?

Answer choices

  1. A. Any query with one option is always prohibited regardless of context
  2. B. Respiratory diagnoses may never be queried
  3. C. Clinical indicators should never be included
  4. D. It omits reasonable alternatives and steers the provider toward one outcome

Correct answer

It omits reasonable alternatives and steers the provider toward one outcome

Objective/domain: 3. Provider Queries (9–11%)

Source: Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2022 Update)

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