Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Dec 2018
ReviewCurrent Procedural Terminology Coding for Surgical Pathology: A Review and One Academic Center's Experience With Pathologist-Verified Coding.
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) system is a standardized numerical coding system for reporting medical procedures and services, and is the basis for reimbursement of health care providers by Medicare and other third-party payers. Accurate CPT coding is therefore crucial for appropriate compensation as well as for compliance with Medicare policies, and erroneous coding may result in loss of revenues and/or significant monetary penalties for a hospital or practice. ⋯ Although the appropriate extent of physician involvement in CPT coding is a matter of some debate, a multidisciplinary approach involving both health care providers and professional coders appears to be the best way to achieve accuracy.