Like all other medical terminology, CPT codes are used daily by medical coders. CPT codes are
known as “Current Procedural Terminology” and consist of five-digit codes that are assigned to
medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures and services. It is very important to be familiar with
CPT codes to be able to assign the correct code to the procedures partaken. They can also
determine if a certain procedure is medically necessary for an injury or wellness. Additionally, these
codes are used by insurers to determine the amount of reimbursement a provider will receive
according to the health insurance coverage. CPT codes describe what was done to the patient
during the consultation, including diagnostic, laboratory, radiology, and surgical procedures. In
contrast, the ICD code identifies a diagnosis and describes a disease or medical condition. CPT
codes are more complex than ICD codes.You can use them to find out exactly what type of
diagnostic, medical, or surgical work your physician has requested for you. All of these uses of the
CPT codes further show how important it is to have a good understanding of how they work and
what they are; it ensures making accurate records of these codes. CPT modifiers are of great
significance as they are used to supplement information or as well adjust care descriptions to
provide extra details concerning a procedure or service which is provided by a physician. Thus the
code modifiers help further describe a procedure code without changing its definition. In other words,
modifiers provide the means to report or either indicate that a service or
either procedure which has been performed as well as been altered by some specific circumstance
but has not changed its definition.
Miller, G.E. (2021).
CPT Codes: What are They? What you Need to Know.
https://20somethingfinance.com/cpt-code/
Emelda, M (n.d.).
Difference Between CPT and ICD Codes
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-cpt-and-icd-code
