Certified Coding Associate (CCA) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Coding Associate Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APC) system is primarily based on the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). This coding system is specifically designed to facilitate the classification of outpatient services and procedures for reimbursement purposes under the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system.

CPT codes provide a uniform language for reporting medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and procedures performed by healthcare providers. HCPCS complements CPT by including additional codes for products, supplies, and non-physician services that may not be covered by CPT. Together, these code sets are essential for accurately describing the outpatient services rendered, which directly informs the payment system's classification and reimbursement structures.

On the other hand, the other options serve different purposes:

- ICD-10-CM is used for coding diagnoses and is primarily applied in inpatient settings for the purposes of morbidity and mortality statistics, rather than focusing on outpatient procedures.

- Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) are used for classifying inpatient stays in acute care hospitals, not outpatient services.

- Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) refers to a type of post-acute care for patients needing rehabilitation or skilled nursing that operates under different payment systems.

Thus, the correct