The CPT Manual
The Current Procedural Terminology Manual (CPT) - answerThe CPT manual is organized according to three categories of codes.
Category I: Five-digit codes with descriptions arranged by sections within the tabular list
of the CPT manual
Category II: A set of supplemental or optional codes used to track performance measurement
Category III: Temporary codes for emerging and new technology, procedures, and services that are not officially included in the tabular list of the CPT manual
CPT Tabular List Sections - answerThe six sections and their code ranges in the tabular
list include:
Evaluation and Management (99201-99499)
Anesthesia (00100-01999, 99100-99140)
Surgery (10021-69990)
Radiology, including nuclear medicine and diagnostic ultrasound (70010-79999)
Pathology and Laboratory (80047-89398)
Medicine, except Anesthesiology (90281-99607)
Each level of a section provides more specificity about the procedure or service performed and the anatomic site or organ system involved.
The tabular index is organized so that each level of a section provides more specificity about the procedure or service performed and the anatomic site or organ system involved.
Purpose of CPT - answerThe alphabetic index acts as a guide to finding data within the textbook. What is CPT Manual based on? - answerThe alphabetic index is based on main terms such as an anatomic site or diagnosis.
Basic Steps for Coding - answerRead, analyze, and abstract the procedure or service present in the health record.
Compare it with the encounter form, operative report, or other documentation.
Review the guidelines, notes, and conventions in the tabular list to ensure that the code selected is most accurate.
Abstract - answerto collect pertinent medical information to make an informed decision on assigning a correct code. This process ensures that all medical procedures or services present in the medical record are identified without any omission. Further, abstracted data has sections such as main terms and subterms (also known as modifying terms). These terms help to find the code or code ranges in the alphabetical index.
Main Terms - answerthe primary procedure or procedure performed such as an excision
Sub Terms - answerfurther defines or adds information to the main term such as the anatomic location or the organ excised, the type of instrument used, a special technique, or whether or not other procedures were performed at the same time as the excision, such as obtaining biopsy tissue for examination
Using the Alphabetical Index - answerAbstract the procedures from the medical documentation and determine the main and modifying terms.
Select the most appropriate main term.
Select one or more modifying terms, if needed to narrow the search.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 using a different main term, if no main or modifying term produces
an appropriate code or code range.
Find the code or code ranges that include the description of the procedure found in the medical record.
Searching the Alphabetical Index - answerUse one of the four primary classifications (or
types) of main and modifying term entries:
Procedure or service (e.g., examination, excision, scope)
Organ or anatomic site (e.g., clavicle, mandible, humerus, liver)
Condition, illness, or injury (e.g., cholelithiasis, ulcer, fracture, pregnancy)
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