Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

The diagnostic code for acute viral pharyngitis should be linked to the throat culture procedure because it represents the diagnosis established after evaluating the patient and the test performed. Linking the procedure to the final diagnosis supports the clinical reason for conducting the test and demonstrates medical necessity since the procedure was used to differentiate between a bacterial infection requiring antibiotics and a viral infection which does not. Linking a throat culture to a diagnosis code for conditions unrelated to the throat, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or chronic tonsillitis, would be incorrect, as these conditions would not justify the need for a throat culture based on medical necessity guidelines.