Final answer:
CPT codes are used to describe medical services and procedures performed by healthcare providers. They are essential for accurate documentation and billing, unlike ICD codes, which are used to diagnose diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
CPT codes are used to describe medical services provided to patients. Each CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code is a unique identifier that describes the type of medical service or procedure performed by healthcare professionals. For example, when a patient undergoes a surgical procedure or receives a medical consultation, the healthcare provider uses CPT codes to document and bill for these services. Unlike ICD codes, which are used for diagnosing diseases, CPT codes focus solely on the services provided to treat the patient. It's important for medical billers and healthcare providers to use accurate CPT codes to ensure proper insurance reimbursement.
On the other hand, the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) code is used for a different purpose. In the context of clinical practice, when a patient has a viral infection, healthcare providers use ICD codes to prescribe treatments and order laboratory tests. These codes are also utilized by medical laboratories to identify necessary tests and by health-care management systems to verify that treatments and lab work are appropriate for the viral infection. ICD codes are essential for medical coders, billers, vital-records keepers who record cause of death, and epidemiologists calculating disease statistics.