Which profession primarily utilizes CPT codes?

Physicians are the primary users of CPT codes, which stand for Current Procedural Terminology. These codes are essential for accurately reporting medical procedures and services performed by healthcare professionals. Physicians use CPT codes for several reasons, including billing and insurance purposes, keeping patient records, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

CPT codes offer a standardized language that facilitates communication among healthcare providers, insurers, and patients regarding the specific services rendered. While other professions, such as nurses and pharmacists, may encounter CPT codes in their work—especially in the context of billing and documentation—their primary function varies significantly from that of physicians, who are responsible for providing and documenting the medical services described by these codes. Public health officials may engage with health data, but they typically do not apply CPT codes directly in their day-to-day tasks. Thus, the distinctions between these professions highlight why physicians are the foremost users of CPT codes in the healthcare system.