What does the CPT code set include?

The CPT code set, or Current Procedural Terminology, includes a comprehensive classification of medical procedures and services. Among its components, Category III codes are specifically designed to represent emerging technology, services, and procedures that may not yet have widespread clinical use or acceptance. These codes facilitate the tracking and reporting of these innovative practices which can lead to better research, coding, and billing for new services offered by healthcare professionals.

In addition to Category III codes, the CPT code set comprises a range of procedure codes (known as Category I codes) and various modifiers that provide additional context about the services rendered. While the CPT code set does not include diagnosis codes (which are part of the ICD code set), it does encompass a complete framework for categorizing and documenting medical procedures and their specifics.