The Current Procedural Terminology coding system, or the CPT coding system was first introduced in 1966 by the American Medical Association. Its use was meant to standardize the reporting of medical procedures and services and has become a key component in healthcare ever since.
In short, the CPT system is the standardized set of medical codes developed to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services for billing, documentation, and reporting. It has been used by healthcare providers, medical coders, medical billers, and insurance companies to ensure accurate reporting across the board.
Interested in a future in healthcare? Explore schools near you offering great healthcare programs.
What’s the CPT Coding System Used For?
The CPT coding system is primarily used by medical professionals, medical administration staff (such as billers and coders), and insurance companies.
Healthcare providers like physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians use CPT codes when documenting procedures and services in medical records. The codes documented by these professionals are used by medical coders to describe the services provided.
Medical coders translate CPT codes documented by healthcare providers to describe the services provided. They check to make sure the correct codes are being used. Medical billers then submit these codes to insurance claims for accurate billing and reimbursement.
Health information management professionals also oversee medical recordkeeping using these codes. They check the accuracy of codes used in reports and also ensure coding standards fall in line with compliance and other coding regulations set in place.
Insurance companies use these medical codes to process claims and determine reimbursement of medical services.
More About the CPT Coding System
Body copy. Most often, CPT codes are unique, five-digit codes that describe the specific medical services and procedures rendered. These codes are submitted to insurance companies or government payers (such as Medicare and Medicaid) to determine any reimbursement and track a patient’s healthcare services.
By standardizing how procedures and services are documented and reported, this system has been widely beneficial across the healthcare industry. Its use over decades has also supported data collection for healthcare planning and research.
Ready for More? Train for a Future in Healthcare Today!
Body copy. People across the board benefit from the CPT coding system. If you’re someone with an interest in the field of healthcare, medical training might be the perfect place to begin. We’re partnered with many excellent schools across the country with medical training programs for career paths such as medical assistant, surgical technician, medical billing and coding, phlebotomist, and many others.
Find a program near you to kick-start your future in healthcare today!