CPT Codes
Mary Fazzi
HCR/201
May 20, 2016
University of Phoenix

CPT Codes CPT As Easy As I II III
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a medical code set to use to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures and services to entities such as doctors, medical insurance companies and authorization organizations. The American Medical Association was the first to produce the CPT codes and there are guidelines that need to be followed.
The CPT code has three different categories. Category I which normally are mostly numbers. They are five digits without any decimals. Each of the codes has a description that is a blurb of explaining what was done. There are office visits, anesthesia for a procedure, removing of an indwelling, radiology, laboratories test, and intravenous infusions. Some examples of category I can be going to a doctor for a annul visit. Surgery can be any part of the body that needs to be fixed or maintain. With radiology is of course x-rays but can also be ultrasounds or other types or ultrasounds needed. There might be times when a doctor might have to use a surgery code for draining an abscess in the office or removing of a growth. Most coder’s will only use category I for most of their jobs. Now category II are four digits and the fifth digit is a letter. These are not paid by insurance, but just notes for the doctor to keep an eye on things and to see that the right treatment is going on. Examples of this can body mass recorded or has reduce smoking or patients history. Last, category III is just a short-term code for new technology, services and procedures. These also have four numbers followed by a letter in the fifth digit. A category III can become a permanent code if it proves to be effective in the outcome and is being used or preformed more around. Like the “magic” mushrooms that are showing potential to fight against depression. It is in the first clinical trial and need to be confirmed in a larger study, but could be something that could one day be a category I and a better way to treat those who don’t respond to therapy and normal medications. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes that give a description that explain the treatment or reason for what is being done. CPT codes aren’t too hard to figure out, over time. Remember as a coder you mostly will be using category I, but there can be times that you need to use other categories.

Reference:
Valerius, J. D., Bayes, N. L., & NNewby, C. (2011). Medical Insurance, An Integrated Claims Process Approach (6th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection.

Huffpost Healthy Living. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/magic-mushrooms-show-promise-in-first-ever-depression-treatment-trial_us_573a5c2be4b077d4d6f3d5fd?ir=healthy+living

American Medical Association. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-managing-your-practice/coding-billing-insurance/cpt/about-cpt/category-ii-codes.page?