Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Administrative: Billing, Coding and SchedulingMedium
A medical assistant is preparing to submit a claim for a patient with a laceration repair. The physician performed a simple repair of a 3.5 cm laceration on the patient's arm. The wound required local anesthesia and simple closure. Which CPT code category would this procedure fall under?
- AMedicine Section
- BRadiology Section
- CPathology and Laboratory Section
- DSurgery Section
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Surgery Section
Laceration repairs, as surgical procedures, are found in the Surgery section of the CPT manual. This section includes codes for various surgical interventions, including integumentary system procedures like wound repairs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Medicine section covers non-surgical services like immunizations, psychiatry, and physical therapy.
- B. The Radiology section includes codes for imaging services like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
- C. The Pathology and Laboratory section covers tests performed on blood, urine, tissue samples, etc.
CPT Code Sections
The major divisions within the CPT manual that categorize services and procedures based on medical specialty or type of service.
- Organized by body system or service type.
- Essential for accurate code lookup.
- Standard sections include E/M, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology & Lab, Medicine.
Memory trick: CPT Sections: 'E'very 'A'nimal 'S'urgically 'R'adiates 'P'athogens 'M'edically.