Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
What is the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set?
Published and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set offers health care professionals a uniform language for reporting medical services and procedures with improved accuracy and efficiency. CPT is composed of descriptions and identifiers for each medical, surgical, and diagnostic services available to patients.
Why are CPT codes important in healthcare?
CPT codes play a critical role in the billing process. CPT codes tell payors what procedures specifically the provider wants reimbursement for. CPT codes work together with ICD codes to provide a complete picture of a medical process for the payor.
CPT is the most widely utilized medical code set across the U.S. The CPT code set is not only used by clinicians for reporting purposes, but also by administrative personnel for claims processing and developing guidelines for medical care review.