Cpt Codes Exist To Facilitate Medical Billing

By Patty Goff


Medical billing can be a complicated endeavor. There are a high number of illnesses, surgeries and much information to remember. The person who functions in this medical position will use the Current Procedural Terminology or cpt codes, on a regular basis.

There is a panel of experts overseeing the application of them called The CPT Editorial Panel. They perform under the directions of the AMA. The code is nd protected under the auspices of that organization.

This code was created to make clear what was administered to each patient in the communications transmitted from one medical department to another. Separate ones identify diagnoses, surgeries and all other medical processes.

The ICD-10 coding system is used to specify what a patient is being treated for. The three types of CPT codes are used to differentiate among all the procedures, care services and surgeries. There are three separate categories, each having separate sections to cover various similar services. Some examples place in Category I are outpatient, Nursing Home and Home Health Care Nursing.

There are specific ones for the administration of anesthesia. Each code refers to a body part or type of procedure. For example, upper or lower abdomen, radiological procedures and neck are each assigned their own code.

The individual code numbers for surgical procedures include integumentary system, reproductive system and auditory system. The now successful cochlear implant surgery would be classified under auditory system. As you can see, this makes billing run smoothly.

Codes for radiological procedures include radiation oncology, mammography and all diagnostic ultrasound procedures. This includes those used to examine the baby when a woman is pregnant. Sometimes the sex of the baby can be identified in this procedure.

Pathology and laboratory are another category. Included are drug tests, evocative suppression testing and the simple urinalysis administered as part of any routine exam in the physicians office. Complicated testing includes hematology and coagulation, transfusion medicine and the postmortem anatomic pathology.

Routine vaccinations, administration of immunizations and kidney dialysis treatments fall under the numbers for medicine category. When someone has severe kidney disease, the dialysis keeps that person alive until a replacement kidney is matched to their blood type. A kidney transplant will relieve them of the need for dialysis.

Specialists also fall under the class of those used for medicine. Some specialties include otorhinolaryngology, psychiatry and cardiology. The cardiologist is known as the heart doctor and the otorhinolaryngologist is, in laymans terms, an ear, nose and throat doctor.

They include a letter of the alphabet to indicate they belong in Category II. There will be four numbers and then a letter of the alphabet. There are eleven Category II codes that include diagnostic screenings, taking a patient history and physical examination.

Category III codes include those for psychotherapy and other counseling. Some will be retired as of 2014. However psychological testing codes will not be changed. Codes are re-evaluated on an annual basis.

The American Medical Association owns the registered trademark and the copyright belongs to them. They license it out to other medical organizations for their use. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and the Federal Register make use of these codes to make their billing work function smoothly.




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