liminfoCPT Code Reference
Free reference guide: CPT Code Reference
About CPT Code Reference
The CPT Code Reference is a searchable quick-lookup guide for medical billing and coding professionals, covering Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes for office visits (99202-99215 new/established), initial and subsequent hospital care (99221-99233), emergency department visits (99281-99285), critical care (99291-99292), and preventive medicine services (99381-99397), all organized by complexity level and time-based criteria.
This reference includes commonly used surgical procedure codes across specialties: skin/subcutaneous procedures (10021-10180), joint injections (20600-20611), Total Knee Arthroplasty (27447), CABG codes (33533-33536 arterial, 33517-33523 venous), upper and lower GI endoscopy with biopsy codes, physical therapy/rehabilitation codes (97110-97542), venipuncture/arterial puncture, and immunization administration codes with vaccine-specific identifiers.
Beyond procedure codes, the guide covers radiology codes (brain MRI, chest X-ray, abdomen/pelvis CT), laboratory panels (BMP, CMP, Lipid, Hepatic, CBC with differential), CPT code structure and categories (I/II/III), critical modifiers (-25 for significant E/M, -59 for distinct procedures with NCCI edit bypass), RVU (Relative Value Unit) payment calculation with the Work/PE/MP formula, and HCPCS Level II supplementary codes for DME, drugs, and supplies.
Key Features
- E/M codes: office visits (99202-99215), hospital care (99221-99233), ED (99281-99285), and critical care (99291-99292)
- Surgical procedures: skin/subcutaneous, joint injections, TKA, CABG, GI endoscopy, and vascular access codes
- Radiology: brain MRI (70551-70553), chest X-ray (71045-71048), abdomen/pelvis CT (74176-74178) with modifier -26/-TC
- Lab panels: BMP (80048), CMP (80053), Lipid (80061), CBC (85025), PT/PTT, and ESR codes
- Modifier reference: -25 (significant E/M), -59 (distinct procedure) with XE/XS/XP/XU sub-modifiers and NCCI rules
- RVU payment formula: Work RVU + Practice Expense + Malpractice with GPCI and Conversion Factor breakdown
- Physical therapy codes (97110-97542), immunization administration (90460-90472), and vaccine codes
- HCPCS Level II overview: DME (E-codes), drugs (J-codes), orthotics (L-codes), and temporary codes (G/Q-codes)
Frequently Asked Questions
What E/M (Evaluation and Management) codes does this reference cover?
The reference covers the complete range of commonly used E/M codes: office visits for new patients (99202-99205) and established patients (99211-99215) with time-based and medical decision-making criteria, initial hospital care (99221-99223), subsequent hospital care (99231-99233), emergency department visits (99281-99285), critical care (99291-99292 with included services), and preventive medicine visits (99381-99397) organized by age group.
How do I look up surgical procedure CPT codes?
The Surgical Procedures category includes skin/subcutaneous procedures (incision, drainage, foreign body removal), joint/tendon injections by joint size (small, medium, large) with ultrasound-guided variants, Total Knee Arthroplasty (27447) with revision codes, CABG with separate arterial and venous graft codes, upper GI endoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy with biopsy/polypectomy codes, physical therapy codes, venipuncture/arterial puncture, and immunization administration.
What radiology and imaging CPT codes are included?
The Radiology section covers brain MRI codes (70551-70553 for without/with/both contrast), chest X-ray (71045-71048 by number of views), and abdomen/pelvis CT (74176-74178). Each entry includes related codes for adjacent anatomical regions and explains the -26 (professional component) and -TC (technical component) modifiers for split billing between interpreting physician and facility.
How do I use the modifier -25 and -59 entries?
The Modifier -25 entry explains when to append -25 to an E/M code billed on the same day as a procedure (significant, separately identifiable E/M service), with common error examples. The Modifier -59 entry covers distinct procedural services at separate anatomical sites, including the newer X-modifiers (XE, XS, XP, XU) and their role in bypassing National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits.
What laboratory panel codes are documented?
The reference covers major lab panels: Basic Metabolic Panel (80048: Na, K, Cl, CO2, BUN, Cr, Glucose, Ca), Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (80053: BMP plus liver function), Lipid Panel (80061), Hepatic Function Panel (80076), Acute Hepatitis Panel (80074), CBC with and without differential (85025/85027), and coagulation tests (PT 85610, PTT 85730, ESR 85652).
How does the RVU payment calculation work?
The RVU entry explains the Medicare payment formula: Payment = [(Work RVU x GPCI_w) + (Practice Expense RVU x GPCI_pe) + (Malpractice RVU x GPCI_mp)] x Conversion Factor. It breaks down the three RVU components (physician work, practice expense, malpractice insurance), Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) adjustments, and the current Conversion Factor range of approximately $33-37 per RVU.
What is the difference between CPT and HCPCS Level II codes?
The reference explains that CPT codes (HCPCS Level I) are 5-digit numeric codes published by the AMA, organized into Category I (procedures/E&M), Category II (supplemental tracking), and Category III (emerging technology). HCPCS Level II codes start with a letter and cover items not in CPT: ambulance (A-codes), DME (E-codes), drugs (J-codes), orthotics/prosthetics (L-codes), and temporary procedure/supply codes (G/Q-codes).
Is the CPT Code Reference free?
Yes, this reference is completely free with no registration or download required. All content runs in your browser with no server communication. It is designed for medical billers, coders, healthcare administrators, and clinical staff who need a quick, reliable CPT code lookup during daily operations.