Which coding system is used primarily for billing all medical services and procedures?

The coding system primarily used for billing all medical services and procedures is the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). CPT codes are maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA) and are specifically designed to provide a uniform language for reporting medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and procedures. Healthcare providers, insurance companies, and government programs use these codes to communicate services rendered and to facilitate billing and reimbursement processes.

CPT codes allow for detailed categorization of services, ranging from office visits to surgical procedures, and cover a wide variety of healthcare services provided by physicians and other healthcare professionals. These codes are crucial for ensuring accurate billing and for maintaining consistency across the medical billing and insurance industries.

In contrast, while the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM coding systems are primarily used for diagnoses and categorizing diseases and health conditions, they do not serve the same purpose for billing the specific services or procedures provided. The Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) focuses on documenting and billing procedures and services that are not covered by CPT codes, such as certain supplies or equipment, but CPT remains the standard for billing medical services and procedures directly.