Can CPT codes be used for purposes other than billing?

CPT codes serve multiple essential functions beyond just billing. One of the primary purposes is to facilitate communication about healthcare services among practitioners, insurers, and regulatory bodies. This includes the ability for researchers to analyze healthcare utilization and quality of care.

Using CPT codes for health services research and performance measurement allows for more effective tracking of trends in healthcare delivery, understanding the impact of interventions, and improving overall outcomes. Researchers can utilize these codes to gather data for studies on various aspects of healthcare services, leading to insights that can inform policy decisions and enhancements in clinical practices.

Additionally, performance measurement often relies on the standardization provided by CPT codes, making it easier to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery systems, identify areas for improvement, and measure the performance of providers against benchmarks.

While documentation is certainly an important aspect of healthcare, the broader applications of CPT codes in research and performance metrics highlight their versatility and significance in the healthcare ecosystem. This context underscores why B is the accurate choice.