Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

Which coding system is primarily used for reporting physician services and procedures in outpatient settings?

1. ICD-10

2. SNOMED

3. HCPCS

4. CPT

The correct answer is: CPT

The coding system used primarily for reporting physician services and procedures in outpatient settings is the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) system. CPT codes provide a standardized language for describing medical, surgical, and diagnostic services performed by healthcare providers. This allows for consistency in billing and insurance reimbursement processes. CPT codes are particularly important in outpatient settings, as they detail the specific services rendered during a patient visit, facilitating the accurate documentation of the services provided by physicians and other healthcare professionals. This level of specificity is essential for ensuring that providers receive appropriate reimbursement for their services and that patient records accurately reflect the care provided. While other coding systems, such as ICD-10 (which focuses on diagnoses) and HCPCS (which includes supplies, equipment, and certain services), play critical roles in healthcare coding, CPT is the primary system utilized for outpatient physician services. SNOMED is more oriented towards clinical terminology and is not specifically designed for billing purposes. Thus, the CPT code system stands out as the correct choice for this question.