Free Registered Health Information Technician Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Registered Health Information Technician practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1When an ICD-10-CM guideline appears to conflict with an instruction in the classification, which direction controls code assignment?

   1. A. Follow the guideline because it is more specific to reporting.
   2. B. Follow the classification's instruction or convention.
   3. C. Choose the direction that yields the most detailed code.
   4. D. Use whichever direction the provider prefers.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The FY 2027 guidelines state, "The instructions and conventions of the classification take precedence over guidelines." Thus the classification instruction controls the conflict.

   Reference: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2027 — Introduction, page 1

2. 2A hospital uses PHI to evaluate care quality within its organization. Under HIPAA's treatment, payment, and operations framework, how is this activity classified?

   1. A. Health care operations.
   2. B. Payment.
   3. C. Treatment.
   4. D. Individual access.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HHS includes "Conducting quality assessment and improvement activities" in health care operations. Internal quality assessment is therefore an operations activity.

   Reference: HHS Guidance: Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations — How the Rule Works: Health Care Operations

3. 3A CDI leader needs an internal data source for the organization's high-volume diagnoses and procedures. Which source fits that purpose?

   1. A. The organization's claims data.
   2. B. The CDC mortality data portal.
   3. C. The CMS Care Compare catalog.
   4. D. The HCUP national database.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Appendix A, Internal sources "Claims data may provide information on diagnoses and procedures within the organization that are high volume."

   Reference: AHIMA Clinical Documentation Integrity Toolkit for New Leaders — AHIMA identifies claims as an internal source for this question:

4. 4A patient is scheduled for care, and staff verify insurance and obtain authorization. Which revenue-cycle phase contains this work?

   1. A. Front-end processes.
   2. B. Mid-cycle charge capture.
   3. C. Back-end denials management.
   4. D. Post-payment audit recovery.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: AHIMA places this work in the stated phase: "Front-End Processes – Registration, insurance verification, authorizations"

   Reference: AHIMA Revenue Cycle: Connecting Care to Payment — Revenue cycle training: front, mid, and back end processes

5. 5An assessment counts whether a hospital has the organizational capability to provide a service. What type of quality measure is this?

   1. A. Outcome measure
   2. B. Process measure
   3. C. Structure measure
   4. D. Inverse measure

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The glossary states, "A structure measure, also known as a structural measure, is a measure assessing features of a health care organization or clinician relevant to its capacity to provide health care." The assessment concerns capacity, not steps or results.

   Reference: eCQI Resource Center Glossary — Structure measure

6. 6An HIM leader plans compliance education for coding and release-of-information staff. Under OIG's voluntary guidance, what should shape targeted sessions?

   1. A. Each role's duties and related compliance risks.
   2. B. One common policy module without role-specific examples.
   3. C. Job title alone without the role's compliance exposure.
   4. D. Past training attendance without current duties or risks.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: OIG advises, "Targeted training sessions should be developed and assigned based on individuals’ roles and responsibilities and any compliance risks specific to those roles and responsibilities." Education should match staff duties.

   Reference: HHS-OIG General Compliance Program Guidance — page 47, Training and Education

7. 7A coder finds a diagnosis term in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index. What must the coder do before assigning the code?

   1. A. Verify the proposed code and instructions in the Tabular List.
   2. B. Assign the Index entry without further verification.
   3. C. Replace the Index entry with the provider's preferred code.
   4. D. Use a three-character category whenever the Index lists one.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The guidelines direct coders to "first locate the term in the Alphabetic Index, and then verify the code in the Tabular List." The Index alone may omit required characters or instructions.

   Reference: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2027 — General Coding Guidelines, Locating a code in the ICD-10-CM, page 12

8. 8A primary care provider sends a patient's record to a specialist who needs it for a referral. Under HIPAA's general treatment provision, what is the authorization requirement?

   1. A. The disclosure may occur for treatment without the patient's authorization.
   2. B. A new authorization is required for every specialist referral.
   3. C. The disclosure is allowed only after the payer adjudicates the claim.
   4. D. Only de-identified information may be sent for treatment.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HHS says a covered entity "may disclose protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider" and gives the specialist referral example. The general TPO permission applies, subject to other relevant conditions.

   Reference: HHS Guidance: Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations — General Provisions at 45 CFR 164.506

9. 9Which internal report would help a CDI team identify the diagnoses and procedures most often denied on claims?

   1. A. Claim denials report.
   2. B. Coding accuracy audit report.
   3. C. Charge capture exception report.
   4. D. Discharged-not-final-billed report.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Appendix A, Internal sources "Claim denials reports to identify the most denied diagnoses and/or procedures."

   Reference: AHIMA Clinical Documentation Integrity Toolkit for New Leaders — AHIMA gives the intended use of this internal report:

10. 10Where does clinical documentation and charge capture primarily occur in AHIMA's revenue-cycle breakdown?

    1. A. Mid-revenue cycle.
    2. B. Front-end registration.
    3. C. Back-end claim adjudication.
    4. D. Post-payment collections.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: AHIMA places this work in the stated phase: "Mid-Revenue Cycle – Coding, documentation, charge capture, utilization review"

    Reference: AHIMA Revenue Cycle: Connecting Care to Payment — Revenue cycle training: front, mid, and back end processes