Understanding & Using CPT Codes for Medical Billing

CPT codes (current procedural terminology) are designed to describe particular services provided to a patient at a medical facility. Use of CPT codes is part of a variety of practices followed by health care professionals to ensure payment by insurance companies. As coordinated billing has become a large part of a medical office's agenda, it pays to know the function of current procedural terminology codes and how to apply them to a bill.

Things You'll Need

• Patient Bill/Chart
• Up-to-date CPT handbook

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Instructions

• 1

  Get a list of performed services or procedures.

• 2

  Look up each service or procedure in an up-to-date CPT reference book.

• 3

  Enter each five-digit CPT code next to the relevant service or procedure in the specified part of the bill.

• 4

  Send the bill along with an Explanation of Benefits to the insurer's offices.

• 5

  Keep your own record of applicable CPT codes for the bill. Be prepared to offer these to an insurance representative if coverage must be verified.