Step by step, how a CPT® code becomes a code
McKnight's September 26, 2024
Every fall, healthcare professionals anxiously await the release of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule, which outlines policy changes for Medicare payments under the PFS and updates to other Medicare Part B payment policies.
What the Final Rule doesn’t fully explain is the journey that brought us here.
How did these codes, the ones we use daily for documentation and billing, come into existence?
Why are they defined the way they are, and how are their values determined?
More importantly, who is involved in shaping these codes?
Behind the scenes, a systematic and carefully structured process ensures that every code is not only defined but appropriately valued. This process, driven by the American Medical Association (AMA)...