What is the primary use of CPT codes in medical practice?

CPT codes, or Current Procedural Terminology codes, are primarily utilized in medical practice for insurance billing purposes. These codes are standardized numerical representations of medical, surgical, and diagnostic services that healthcare providers perform.

When a patient receives care, the services rendered are documented and encoded with CPT codes. This coding is crucial for insurance companies as it allows for the proper processing of claims. When providers submit claims to insurers, they include CPT codes to specify exactly what services were provided, thereby enabling the insurer to determine the appropriate reimbursement.

While CPT codes can also have roles in research documentation and contribute to statistical analyses regarding healthcare practices, their main purpose centers around facilitating the billing and payment processes in healthcare. Additionally, patient education is not directly related to the assignment or use of CPT codes, as these codes are primarily a tool for healthcare providers and insurance companies.