Current procedural terminology (CPT®) is a five-digit numeric coding system used to record services provided by or performed under the direct supervision of a physician or non-physician providers. CPT Codes are actually part of the HCPCS Coding System, discussed later in this chapter.

Within CPT® there are essentially two types of codes: one type for evaluation and management (E&M) services and one type for procedures and other services. In addition to these codes, Medicare and some private health plans recognize extensions or "modifiers," which are appended to the code to provide further details.

• E&M Codes
• Procedure Codes
• E&M Modifiers
• Procedural Modifiers
• Global Periods
• Add-on Codes

E&M Codes

E&M codes are represented by CPT® code numbers 99201 through 99499. E&M codes are used to describe patient visits and are divided into broad categories such as office visits, hospital visits and consultations. These categories are then divided even further.

For instance, office visits are categorized as either new or established patients, and hospital visits are categorized as either initial or subsequent. And finally, within each subcategory there are different levels. These levels indicate the varying degrees of effort, time, responsibility and medical knowledge expended during the visit.

The E&M codes have their own set of modifiers should there be a special circumstance surrounding the visit. You must use one of these modifiers to describe the circumstance and indicate to your carrier that your billing is, therefore, modified.

E&M Modifiers

Procedure Codes

The second type of code, the procedure code, represents diagnostic and treatment services. For most urological procedures, the appropriate codes can be found in the urinary and male genital sections under CPT® codes 50010 through 55899. However, some procedures commonly billed by urologists are in other sections.

For example, ultrasound services are listed in the CPT® code 76xxx series.) Any code, which describes the service rendered, may be billed. (The only exception to this may be "bundling" edits captured in the signed contractual agreement with an insurance carrier or if a Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edit applies.

Procedural Modifiers

To describe any special surgical circumstance to the payer, you must use the procedural modifiers. To describe any special surgical circumstance to the payer, you must use the procedural modifiers.There may be different modifiers for specific place of service as well, such as Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Hospital Outpatient use. Check the CPT Manual for specific instructions.

Global Periods

For each CPT® code, there is a corresponding global period. These global periods indicate the number of postoperative days of care that are included in the payment for a procedure or surgery. Under Medicare there are several global periods. Private insurer global periods may differ from Mediare.

A service paid on a global basis includes:

• visits and other physician services provided within 24 hours prior to the service
• provision of the service
• visits and other physician services for a specified number of days after the service is provided

Add-on Codes

Some CPT® procedures are usually done in addition to another (primary) procedure. These codes are termed "add-on codes." Add-on codes describe additional intra-service work associated with the primary procedure and are always performed with the primary procedure; they are never reported as a stand-alone code. Do not use modifier -51, Multiple Procedure, on an add-on code.