What do CPT codes primarily describe?

CPT codes, which stand for Current Procedural Terminology codes, are primarily used to describe medical procedures and professional services. These codes provide a uniform language for reporting and documenting medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and procedures performed by healthcare providers. They are essential for accurate billing and coding in the medical field, allowing healthcare professionals to communicate effectively about the services they provide to patients.

By utilizing CPT codes, healthcare providers can standardize the way they report services, ensuring consistency in documentation and billing across different practices and facilities. This is crucial for proper reimbursement from insurance companies and for maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations. Hence, the focus of CPT codes is not on laboratory test results, patient histories, or billing compliance directly, but rather on the specific medical procedures and services that are delivered to patients.