The document provides an overview of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system. It describes CPT as a standardized coding system maintained by the American Medical Association to provide uniform descriptions and codes for medical services and procedures. The document outlines the 10 learning objectives of the chapter, including describing the purpose, organization, and use of CPT codes. It also summarizes the different code categories and sections within CPT as well as modifiers used to provide additional information about procedures.

1. INTRODUCTION TO CPT
DR. TANVEER ABBAS

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
1. Explain the purpose of the CPT code set.
2. Identify the medical settings in which CPT is used.
3. Describe the content and organization of CPT.
4. Identify the symbols, format and punctuation used in CPT.
5. Discuss the purpose and use of CPT modifiers, distinguishing
among CPT professional, HCPCS, and facility modifiers.
6. Recognize the importance of using current codes and discuss
ways to stay up to date.
7. Compare and contrast the ICD-9-CM and CPT code sets.
8. List CPT coding resources and references.
9. Recognize when an unlisted code is needed, and identify the
purpose and parts of a special report.
10. List the nine steps to properly assign CPT codes and to correctly
select and append modifiers.
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3. DESCRIPTION OF CPT
• CPT is a coding nomenclature that allows
medical procedures to be transformed to
numbers
• CPT is based on professional services provided
by healthcare providers such as physician,
nurse practitioners and physician assistants
• CPT services include office visits, surgery,
laboratory, radiology, pathology, anesthesia and
medical procedures
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4. CPT BACKGROUND
• CPT was developed by the American Medical
Association (AMA) in 1966.
• CPT is still currently maintained by the AMA
• CPT code sets
– HCPCS level I (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System)
• CPT codes maintained by AMA
– HCPCS level II
• HCPCS codes maintained by Federal Government
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5. PURPOSE OF CPT
• Reimburse physician services
• Trending services provided nationally
• Future coding and reimbursement planning
• Benchmarking facilities, costs and services
• Measuring quality of care and patient outcomes
nationally
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6. ALL CPT CODES MUST BE:
• Commonly performed by physicians across the
nation
• Consistent with mainstream medical practice
• Approved by the AMA CPT Editorial Board
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7. ORGANIZATION OF CPT
• Each code is followed by a unique code
descriptor explaining the service
• More than 8,000 unique CPT codes
• CPT codes are 5 digits long
• CPT manual includes parenthetical notes
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8. INTRODUCTION TO CPT
• Category I codes are permanent codes
• 6 Sections of Category I codes-each with a set
of guidelines at the section beginning
– Evaluation and Management (E/M)
– Anesthesia
– Surgery
– Radiology
– Pathology/Laboratory
– Medicine
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9. EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT
SECTION
• Code Ranges 99201 - 99499
• Cover physician services that are performed to
determine the best course for patient care
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10. ANESTHESIA SECTION
• Code Ranges 00100 – 01999
• Used to report anesthesia services performed or
supervised by a physician
• Codes include routine anesthesia care
– Pre-op, intra-op, post-op
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11. SURGERY SECTION
• Largest section in the CPT book
• Code ranges 10021 – 69990
• Divided by body systems
– Integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory,
digestive, cardiology, urinary, male/female, nervous,
auditory/ocular
• Codes are for a surgical package
– Pre-op, intra-op, post-op
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12. RADIOLOGY SECTION
• Code Ranges 70010 – 79999
• Used to report radiological services performed
or supervised by a physician
• Codes are selected based on the body part and
number/type of view
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13. PATHOLOGY/LABORATORY SECTION
• Code Ranges 80048 – 89356
• Cover services provided by physicians or
technician supervised by physicians
• Complete procedure includes:
– Ordering the test
– Taking/handling the sample
– Performing the test
– Analyzing/reporting on the test results
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14. MEDICINE SECTION
• Code Ranges 90281 – 99607
• Codes include the many types of evaluation,
therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures that
physicians/health care providers perform
• May be used by procedures done or supervised
by a physician of any specialty
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15. CATEGORY II CODES
• Used to track physician performance in
measuring and monitoring patient care
• Are alphanumeric codes, start with 1 letter then
followed by 4 numbers
• Improve quality of care but are not “billable”
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16. CATEGORY III CODES
• Introduced in 2002
• They are used to report new technology,
services or procedures that do not currently
have a CPT code assigned
• Located directly after the Category II codes
• Allow researchers to track emerging technology
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17. APPENDIXES
• Appendix A
– Lists/examples of modifiers
• Appendix B
– Summary of additions/deletions/revisions
• Appendix C
– Clinical Examples of E/M Codes
• Appendix D
– Summary of CPT Add-on Codes
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18. APPENDIXES CONTINUED
• Appendix E
– Summary of CPT codes exempt from -51
• Appendix F
– Summary of CPT codes exempt from -63
• Appendix G
– Summary of CPT codes which include conscious
sedation
• Appendix H
– Alphabetical index of performance measures by
clinical condition or topic
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19. APPENDIXES CONTINUED
• Appendix I
– Genetic Testing Code Modifiers
• Appendix J
– Electrodiagnostic Medicine Listing of Sensory, Motor
and Mixed Nerves
• Appendix K
– Product Pending FDA Approvement
• Appendix L
– Vascular Families
• Appendix M
– Crosswalk to deleted CPT codes
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20. PUNCTUATION AND SYMBOLS
; Semicolon
– Divides the common portion of a code descriptor from
the unique portion
• Bullet
– New Code
▲Triangle
– Revised code
+ Plus Symbol
– Add on code
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21. PUNCTUATION AND SYMBOLS
CONTINUED
 Modifier 51 Exempt
– Indicates the code cannot be assigned with -51
►◄Facing Triangles
– That the code is new or revised since the last year’s
edition
 Circled Bullet
– That conscious sedation is included in code
 Lightning Bolt
– Is for a vaccine pending FDA Approval
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22. MODIFIERS
• 2-digit characters added to the end of a CPT
code
• Used to communicate special circumstances
surrounding the assigned code
• May increase or decrease the amount of
reimbursement
• Three types of modifiers
– CPT Modifiers
– Facility Modifiers
– HCPCS Modifiers
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23. CPT MODIFIERS
• Listed in the front cover of the CPT book
• List of these:
– 21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -32 -47 -50
– 51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -62
– 63 -66 -73 -74 -76 -77 -78 -79 -80 -81
– 82 -90 -91 -99
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24. FACILITY MODIFIERS
• There are 13 approved facility modifiers
• Some of these are the same of the CPT
modifiers
• List of these:
– 25 -27 -50 -52 -58 -59 -73
– 74 -76 -77 -78 -79 -91
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25. HCPCS MODIFIERS
• Are alphanumeric
• Some are in the front of the CPT book and the
remaining are in the HCPCS book
• Required when filing claims to government
payors
• List of these:
– Ca -E1 -E2 -E3 -E4 -FA -F1 -F2 -F3 -F4
– F5 -F6 -F7 -F8 -F9 -GA -GG -GH -LC
– LD -RC -QM -QN -TA -T1 -T2 -T3 -T4
– T5 -T6 -T7 -T8 -T9 -TC
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26. DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS
• -21 – prolonged evaluation and management services
• -22 – unusual (increased) procedural services
• -23 – unusual anesthesia
• -24 – unrelated evaluation and management service by
the same physician during a postoperative period
• -25 – significant, separately identifiable evaluation and
management service by the same physician on the same
day of the procedure or other service
• -26 – professional component
• -27 – multiple outpatient hospital E/M encounters on the
same date
• -32 – mandated services
• -47 – anesthesia by surgeon
• 50 – bilateral procedure
• 51 – multiple procedures
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27. DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS
• -52 – reduced services
• -53 – discounted procedure
• -54 – surgical care only
• -55 – postoperative management only
• -56 – preoperative management only
• -57 – decision for surgery
• -58 – staged or related procedure or service by the same
physician during the postop period
• -59 – distinct procedural service
• -62 – two surgeons
• -63 – procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg
• -66 – surgical team
• - 73 - discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory
surgery center procedure prior to the administration of
anesthesia
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28. DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS
• -74 - discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory
surgery center procedure after administration of
anesthesia
• -76 – repeat procedure by same physician
• -77 – repeat procedure by another physician
• -78 – return to the operating room for a related
procedure during the postoperative period
• -79 – unrelated procedure or service by the same
physician during the postoperative period
• -80 – assistant surgeon
• -81 – minimum assistant surgeon
• -82 assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon
not available)
• - 90 – reference (outside) laboratory
• -91 – repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test
• -99 – multiple modifiers
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29. DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS
• -E1 – upper left, eyelid
• -E2 – lower left, eyelid
• -E3 – upper right, eyelid
• -E4 – lower right, eyelid
• F1 – left hand, second digit
• -F2 – left hand, third digit
• -F3 – left hand, fourth digit
• -F4 – left hand, fifth digit
• -F5 – right hand, thumb
• -F6 – right hand, second digit
• -F7 – right hand, third digit
• -F8 – right hand fourth digit
• -F9 – right hand fifth digit
• - FA – left hand, thumb
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30. DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS
• -GG – performance and payment of a screening
mammogram and diagnostic mammogram on the same
patient, same day
• -GH – diagnostic mammogram converted from screening
mammogram on same day
• -LC – left circumflex coronary artery
• -LD – left anterior descending coronary artery
• -LT – left side
• -QM – ambulance service provided under arrangement
by a provider of services
• -QN – Ambulance service furnished directly by a
provider of services
• -RC – right coronary artery
• -RT – right side
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31. DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS
• -T1 – left foot, second digit
• -T2 – left foot, third digit
• -T3 – left foot, fourth digit
• -T4 – left foot, fifth digit
• -T6 – right foot, great toe
• -T7 – right foot, second digit
• -T8 – right foot, third digit
• -T9 – right foot, fifth digit
• -TA – left foot, great toe
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32. CPT UPDATES
• New, deleted and changed CPT codes are
updated yearly, in October by the AMA and go
into effect in January of the following year.
• Category III codes are updated twice a year,
July 1 and January 1.
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33. HOW TO ASSIGN CPT CODES AND
MODIFIERS
• Step 1: review the complete medical
documentation
• Step 2: Abstract the medical procedures that
should be coded
• Step 3: Identify the main terms and related terms
• Step 4: Locate the terms in the CPT index
• Step 5: Review the codes, descriptors and notes
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34. HOW TO ASSIGN CPT CODES AND
MODIFIERS
• Step 6: Verify the code against the
documentation
• Step 7: Assign codes for all significant services
• Step 8: Assign modifiers, if appropriate
• Step 9: Check all possibilities before final code
assignment
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35. HELPFUL CPT CODING RESOURCES
• Medical Dictionary
• Anatomy & Physiology Text
• Current ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codebooks
• Physician’s Desk Reference
• Merck Manual
• Contractor’s Provider Manual
• Subscription to AHA Coding Clinic
• Subscription to AMA Coding Assistant
• www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd
• www.cms.hhs.gov/center/coverage.asp
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