Medical cost concept with calculator and stethoscope
Picture this:
You go on a mountain hike with a friend. Halfway up the trail, you felt short of breath and dizzy. You stop to take a rest. Your breathing improves, but your heart is beating too fast.
Your friend drives you to the hospital. A doctor listened to your heart and said something was wrong with your heart valves. You need to make an appointment with a cardiologist for an echocardiogram.
Worried about coverage and cost, you contact your health insurer. You’re told to make sure the physician puts in the correct echocardiogram CPT code.
If you’re anything like the average person, you have no idea what that is. Read on to find out.
What Is a CPT Code?
A CPT is a 5-digit code used for all medical services, and surgical procedures. CPT stands for current procedural terminology. The codes are used to identify medical care services or procedures.
Created and published by the American Medical Association, the CPT codes are used by doctors for billing purposes. Insurance companies use the CPT code for reimbursement of the medical practitioner.
A CPT code can also be used by the patient. That code will tell you the type of test, medical procedure, or surgery that has been requested for you.
Why Are CPT Codes Important?
Insurers use CPT codes for reimbursement to the medical practitioner based on your insurance coverage. That will determine how much of the cost will be your responsibility.
There are thousands of medical codes and mistakes can happen. You can double-check the CPT codes. There are online sites that have CPT code lookup to verify what the physician actually ordered is exactly what was expected.
You wouldn’t want a procedure you weren’t anticipating, nor do you want to be billed for the wrong procedure. Knowing the CPT code can also help with errors in medical billing.
Echocardiogram CPT Code
So, you do your homework and discover that 93306 was the correct code for your echocardiogram. The 93306 is a complete study with real-time image documentation. That is exactly what your doctor told you.
With the correct code, you contact your health insurer. The procedure is covered, and you wouldn’t have to worry about an unexpected medical bill.
Knowing the CPT Code
CPT is a uniform, numbered coding system used for medical services or procedures. Knowing the correct CPT code for your medical procedure will give you peace of mind.
Confirming the correct echocardiogram CPT code makes you feel in charge of your health care. Running that code by your insurer reaffirms your medical coverage and lets you know the bill to expect.
Those 5-digit codes from your doctor carry a lot of information about your medical care. It’s good to learn how your doctor communicates with insurance companies and other medical practitioners.
Keep tabs on our blog for more informative articles.
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