Are you getting prepared for Medical Coding Interview Questions? If so, this page’s approximately 50 questions about aptitude, conduct, situations, and roles are the appropriate tools for you. Read on!
Medical Coding Interview Questions?
Translating physician reports into practical medical codes or the industry-standard codes used by insurance companies is the responsibility of medical coders.
Coders translate all the data in a patient’s medical record, from the diagnosis and treatment to the materials employed. They comprise any novel techniques applied throughout a patient visit or course of treatment.
Medical coders are required to code all pertinent data. The insurance provider will need precise information to complete the claim when a patient receives medical treatment or is examined by a doctor. Medical coders carefully and meticulously transmit the data to insurance companies.
Top Medical Coding Interview Questions for Freshers
Q: Introduce yourself
Ans: Start as given below:
- Start with your full name
- Give your place information
- Tell them about your education in short
- Job experience if any
- Family details in short.
Q: How should I prepare for an interview for medical coding?
Ans: Typically, medical organizations like hospitals and clinics use medical coders to manage patient data and billings. Therefore, in order to perform your job properly as a prospective medical coder, you should be familiar with the most widely used coding systems, such as ICD, CPT, DSM, and HCPCS. These coding systems are the subject of the majority of the technical questions in a medical coding interview. In addition, if you have the expertise as a medical coder, you should review your CV to make sure you can satisfactorily answer all the inquiries about your background, duties, and work function at your prior employer.
Q: What motivated you to pursue a profession in medical coding?
Ans: Medical coders must have a certain amount of interest in the medical industry since they must be familiar with medical terminology in order to do their duties, which include entering, checking, and updating billing information. Their desire to succeed in the medical profession and their passion and interest in the medical field are what motivate them. This is the reason why recruiting managers would inquire. You can make a positive impression by responding to this question by stating your individual motivation for wanting to work as a medical coder.
Q: What types of medical coding?
Ans: The three levels of HCPCS, the ICD-9 and ICD-10, and CPT are the three primary types of medical coding. Depending on which of the three coding systems is more frequently used in the healthcare organization, medical coders have varying degrees of experience and knowledge in them.
Q: What is medical coding?
Ans: Medical coding is the transformation of healthcare diagnosis, procedure, medical service, and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric code.
Q: How do you know about medical coding?
Ans: I was searching for Internet carrier opportunities after graduation, and I found medical coding is fast-growing and suitable for me.
Q: What types of specialties in medical coding do you know?
Ans:
- E/M. ED
- Radiology
- Denials
- Pathology
- Surgery etc.
Q: What is the meaning of the medical term megaly?
Ans: Megaly means enlargement.
Q: What is the smallest bone in the human body?
Ans: The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body which is located in the ear.
Q: What is the meaning of intra and inter?
Ans: Intra means inside or within and inter means between.
Q: What is the normal human body pH?
Ans: The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. where 0 is very acidic and 14 is very alkaline. on the average human body, pH is around 7.35 to 7.45.
Q: What are the means of Hydro?
Ans: Hydro means content where water is present.
Q: What competencies are required to be a medical coder?
Ans: The following competencies are required to be a medical coder
- Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology
- Knowledge of disease, injuries, and clinical procedures.
- Read and understand the medical surgical report and patient charts.
- Attention to detail and multitasking
- Well-versed in classification and coding conventions.
- Computer and paper-based data management system.
- Effective communication skills and high moral integrity.
- Stay focused and work independently.
Related: Medical Writing Interview Questions
Common Medical coder Interview Questions for Experienced candidates.
Q: The phase of medical coding?
Ans:
- Abstraction: Reading the complete record of the patient.
- Assignment: Find the appropriate code for each procedure and enter it into the system.
- Review: The assigned code set clearly explains what happened to the patient and how were they treated.
Q: Tell me about ICD codes.
Ans:
- International statistical classification of the disease.
- Describe the diagnosis, symptoms, causes of the death, and other reasons for a health encounter.
- Alphanumeric code of 3 to 7 characters.
- Components of ICD-10
- ICD-10-CM: Clinical modification for diagnostic coding
- ICD-10-PCS: Procedure coding system
- Maintained by WHO followed internationally.
Q: What is the HCPCS code?
Ans: HCPCS is the healthcare common procedure coding system.
Three levels of HCPCS codes:
Level 1- CPT codes (5 to digit no’s to identify medical service and procedure orders).
Level 2- Things not included in CPT (products, supplies, pharmacy, and service).
Level 3- Local 5-character alphanumeric codes starting with W, X, Y, or Z.
Q: When are HCPCS modifiers used?
Ans: Used to provide more information about the service or procedure performed.
Examples: Specify the area of the body that went through the procedure
If multiple procedures were performed in a session.
If the procedure was discontinued.
Q: What are DRG codes?
Ans:
- Diagnostic related group
- Classifies hospital cases into a set group
- Used to code only inpatient claims
- Many insurers pay only based on these codes
- Every DRG has an attached payment weight.
Q: Uses of medical coding in the practical world.
Ans:
- Used by insurance companies to pay health insurance claims.
- Helps in billing process at hospitals
- Help governments analyze disease patterns and run combat programs.
- Statistics for regional and national health and death cases.
Q: Guidelines and tips for medical coders?
Ans:
- Code only what is documented
- Report codes in the right order
- Follow NCCI and MUE guidelines
- use appropriate modifiers.
Q: In medical billing, what does a “J” code mean?
Ans: The HCPCS code set, which includes the “J” code for medical billing, designates pharmaceuticals given intravenously and for chemotherapy drugs. The HCPCS Level II Codes typically include the J code.
Q: What does the term “epistaxis” mean?
Ans: Epistaxis is the medical name for bleeding from the tissues lining the nose.
Q: What is ICD-10 CM, exactly?
Ans: ICD-10, often known as the International Classification of Diseases, is the 10th update to the World Health Organization’s initial ICD. The standard and comprehensive convention for reporting and tracking diseases are represented by these codes.
Q: What medical billing mistakes are typical, and how can you avoid them?
Ans: The most frequent errors include mistakenly inputting incorrect charges or codes or failing to provide enough information for insurance companies to complete the claim. Normally, I check my records a second time against the patient file. In the event that I come across any unclear or missing information, I seek the doctor’s clarification.
Q: When entering billing numbers for the patient, how do you prioritize your work?
Ans: Before beginning my daily job, I check the patient files for any urgent billing requirements, such as obtaining approval for a patient’s prescription medication so that their treatment can continue. To make sure the patient files are cleared and there are no obstacles to their treatment, I then move on to the oldest file first.
Q: What types of medical specializations have you previously coded?
Ans: I’ve worked as a coder for Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, and Otorhinolaryngology. The most enjoyable part of my time in Otorhinolaryngology coding.
Medical Coding Interview Rounds:
There are mainly three-round interview processes for medical coding:
1.face to face(interview panel)
2. written test
3. Face-to-face (manager)
First Round:
Be prepared for the following questions:
Q. Explain the CNS system.
Q. What is the smallest bone in the human body?
Q. What are the largest organs in the human body?
Q. Tell me about the nervous system.
Second round.
In the second round of written interviews, the following types of questions may be asked:
PREFIX/SUFFIX
1. ———- Algia -prefix
Ans -neuralgia(eg)
2. ——- itis -prefix
Ans-colitis (eg)
3. ———– Pathy
Ans-myelopathy
4. CHD -expand
Ans: CORONARY HEART DISEASE
5. Expansion of MS
Ans: Multiple sclerosis
6. CHF
Ans: Congestive heart failure
7. EEG
Ans: Electroencephalogram
8. PUD
Ans: Peptic ulcer disease
9. ESRD
Ans: End-stage Renal Disease
10. what is a seizure?
Ans: Uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain
11. Spine divisions
Ans: CERVICAL (C1 throughC7)
THORACIC(T1 Through T12)
LUMBAR (L1 THROUGH L5)
SACRAM (S1 THROUGH S5)
12. Thrombus
Ans: Blood clot in the circulatory system.
13.4 types of bone?
Ans: Long bone, Short bone, irregular bone, flat bone.
14. Thrombus
Ans: Blood clot in the circulatory system.
15. excision of embolus and clot
Ans: Embolectomy
16. Thrombocytopenia
Ans: Low platelet count
17. Ischemia
Ans: Lack of blood supply
18.120/80 mmHg . .. .. what 120 denotes.
Ans: systole.
Third Round
The third round (HR Round) is based on:
- Salary expectation
- How will you stay
- Extra benefits
- Company Policies and Ethics
FAQs on Medical Coding Interview Questions
There Must Be Some Transferable Skills For Medical Coders As Well, Right?
In a computerized atmosphere centered on medical stuff, one needs to be a good team player, thus communication is the top concern. The next step is computer literacy, followed by teamwork and research confidence. Computer users need Microsoft Office to function. The ability to work in a team in an organization and attention to detail are both necessary for the coder.
Do Medical Coders Work From Home?
Yes, there are home-based medical coders, and they are frequently independent contractors who work for themselves. Between working as an hourly employee and running your own firm, this kind of labor falls.
These independent contractors are those who have agreements with a bigger company that gives work to the remote programmer in exchange for a set fee. These independent contractors gain from being able to work from home, have a flexible schedule, and earn a consistent and regular income without having to bear the high overhead costs and liabilities that come with small business ownership.