Which coding system is used to identify procedures and services?

• A. CPT codes
• B. ICD codes
• C. DSM
• D. NDC

Answer: (A)

Medical coding uses different systems to capture what happened in a visit, and the one that identifies procedures and services is CPT codes. CPT, or Current Procedural Terminology, assigns specific codes to the procedures, services, and activities performed by clinicians—things like office visits, surgeries, imaging studies, lab tests, and anesthesia. These codes are used for documentation and billing to convey exactly what was done.

Other systems serve different purposes. ICD codes classify diagnoses—the illnesses or conditions prompting the encounter. DSM is a manual used for diagnosing mental disorders in clinical practice and research, not for billing procedures. NDC codes identify medications and drug products. So when the goal is to identify procedures and services, CPT codes are the appropriate choice.