1 | Page
CPT Coding Questions and Answers 2026
Latest Update
CPT coding system Ans: Descriptive terms and identifying codes
for reporting
medical services and procedures
Provides uniform language that describes medical,
surgical, and diagnostic services
Published by the American Medical Association (AMA)
CPT codes Ans: Five digits in length
Descriptions reflect health care services and procedures
performed in modern medical practice.
Reviewed by AMA to update codes and descriptions
annually
Category I CPT codes Ans: Five-digit CPT code and descriptor
nomenclature
Organized in six sections
Category II CPT codes Ans: Reported to track performance
measurements
Use is optional.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Category III CPT codes Ans: Contains "emerging technology"
temporary codes
Assigned for data purposes
Archived after five years unless accepted for placement
CPT Category I Sections Ans: Evaluation and Management (E/M)
Anesthesia
Surgery
Radiology
Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine
Stand-alone code Ans: includes complete description of
procedure or service
Indented code Ans: appears below stand-alone code,
requiring coder to refer back to common portion of
code description located before semicolon
CPT Category II Codes Ans: Tracking codes used for performance
measurement in compliance with PQRS
Assigned for certain services or test results
that support performance measures
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Alphanumeric and consist of four digits
followed by alpha character F
Reporting is optional.
CPT Category III Codes Ans: Allow for utilization tracking of
emerging:
Technology
Procedures
Services
Facilitate data collection/assessment about
new services/procedures during FDA
approval process
Alphanumeric and consist of four digits
followed by the alpha character T
CPT Appendices Ans: Appendix A—CPT modifiers/descriptions
Appendix B—Added/deleted/revised codes
Appendix C—E/M clinical examples
Appendix D—Summary list of add-on codes
Guidelines Ans: define and explain assignment
of codes, procedures, and services in a
particular CPT section
© 2025 All rights reserved
CPT Coding Questions and Answers 2026
Latest Update
CPT coding system Ans: Descriptive terms and identifying codes
for reporting
medical services and procedures
Provides uniform language that describes medical,
surgical, and diagnostic services
Published by the American Medical Association (AMA)
CPT codes Ans: Five digits in length
Descriptions reflect health care services and procedures
performed in modern medical practice.
Reviewed by AMA to update codes and descriptions
annually
Category I CPT codes Ans: Five-digit CPT code and descriptor
nomenclature
Organized in six sections
Category II CPT codes Ans: Reported to track performance
measurements
Use is optional.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Category III CPT codes Ans: Contains "emerging technology"
temporary codes
Assigned for data purposes
Archived after five years unless accepted for placement
CPT Category I Sections Ans: Evaluation and Management (E/M)
Anesthesia
Surgery
Radiology
Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine
Stand-alone code Ans: includes complete description of
procedure or service
Indented code Ans: appears below stand-alone code,
requiring coder to refer back to common portion of
code description located before semicolon
CPT Category II Codes Ans: Tracking codes used for performance
measurement in compliance with PQRS
Assigned for certain services or test results
that support performance measures
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Alphanumeric and consist of four digits
followed by alpha character F
Reporting is optional.
CPT Category III Codes Ans: Allow for utilization tracking of
emerging:
Technology
Procedures
Services
Facilitate data collection/assessment about
new services/procedures during FDA
approval process
Alphanumeric and consist of four digits
followed by the alpha character T
CPT Appendices Ans: Appendix A—CPT modifiers/descriptions
Appendix B—Added/deleted/revised codes
Appendix C—E/M clinical examples
Appendix D—Summary list of add-on codes
Guidelines Ans: define and explain assignment
of codes, procedures, and services in a
particular CPT section
© 2025 All rights reserved
