AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) — Question 1

An emergency department (ED) physician preforms an immediate tracheostomy on a 1-year-old that has severe head and neck trauma that is obstructing her breathing.
Which CPT® code is reported?

Answer options

• A. 31603
• B. 31500
• C. 31601
• D. 31600

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct CPT® code is 31603, which specifically describes the procedure of performing a tracheostomy in an emergency setting. The other codes, such as 31500 and 31600, refer to different procedures not applicable to the emergent tracheostomy situation, while 31601 is for a different type of tracheostomy that does not match the urgency or the patient's condition.