Which statement about CPT codes is true?

• A. They are used to classify diagnoses
• B. They are five-digit codes representing professional services provided by a clinician
• C. They are used to determine DRG payment amounts
• D. They are updated only every ten years

Answer: (B)

CPT codes are five-digit codes used to describe the medical procedures and services provided by clinicians for billing purposes. They identify professional services in outpatient, office, and similar settings and are updated annually by the American Medical Association. This is why the statement about CPT codes being five-digit codes representing professional services is true. They are not meant to classify diagnoses (that’s ICD-10-CM), nor do they determine DRG payments for inpatient stays (DRGs govern hospital payments). Multiply, CPT codes can be augmented with modifiers to convey additional details about the service.