CPT coding is a universal standard code for medical procedures and services, developed by the American Medical Association. It is a complex and specific procedure, and knowledge of it is required in medical offices. Careers in medical information technology, including CPT coding, are expected to grow in the future.
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding is a universal standard code that is applied to medical procedures and services for medical record purposes. CPT was developed by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1966 and the codes are uniform codes that translate the same for doctors, hospitals, patients, insurance companies and other third parties. Knowledge of CPT coding is often required of medical office personnel.
CPT coding is like a language for those working in the medical field. Each code is a string of numbers, usually five, which indicate a service or procedure. The AMA approves all codes and updates them annually. Coding is a complex and very specific procedure; for example, there are as many as 13 different CPT codes for the flu vaccine, each specific to the type of vaccine and its administration.
Individuals with knowledge of CPT coding may be eligible to work in a doctor’s office or other medical setting. Programmers can earn coding credentials to become certified in this field. Many schools offer training in health information management which includes medical coding training. As the demands for highly skilled health information management individuals grow, other additional areas are becoming essential to getting a job in the medical information management field.
Knowledge of CPT coding can be used in medical practices, both in registries and billing, in hospital records departments and in health insurance companies. Being able to differentiate between specific coding requirements for different insurance providers is one area where CPT coders are able to help both patients and physicians. Without the correct coding, many claims are denied.
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that careers in medical information technology, including CPT coding, are expected to grow in the future. This makes the sector one of the fastest growing labor markets. The salary of a programmer or reimbursement specialist varies based on experience, certification, training, and location.
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