Question

What is the following respective history, purpose, and use of the SNOMED CT®, CPT®, and HCPCS systems

Answer 1

SNOMED CT:

History:

The standardized Nomenclature of Disease was developed by Anatomical society. Based on this, the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine was developed in 1974. Dr. Roger has expanded this to use in the healthcare settings. Later, in 1977 the SNOMED was converted into electronic media for the use of health professionals after several changes and named as Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) which released in JAN 2002.

Purpose:

The main purpose is to strengthen the basic sciences, laboratory, and specialty medicine in the primary care. It provides the codes, terms, synonyms, procedures for the physicians.

Uses:

• Physicians used for clinical reference, clinical documentation, and reporting.
• It helps the physician's to assess the patient past medical history.
• It is widely used as a Standardized vocabulary by healthcare professionals.

CPT:

History:

CPT was developed by American Medical Association in 1966. It consists of standardized terminology and reporting. The manual contains category I, Category II, and Category III.

Purpose:

It was established mainly to meet the physician's communication needs. Medicare adopted the CPT manual for the reimbursement purposes. It is currently used as a service provider for reimbursement.

Uses:

• It is used by the physicians, health insurance companies, and other organization to report the medical, surgical, and other diagnostic procedures.
• It is widely used in the electronic billing process.
• It is used in the form of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10- CM

HCPCS:

History:

The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) was developed based on the American Medical Association CPT. It has a uniform method to report medical services, procedures, and supplies.

Purpose:

• The purpose is to meet the operational needs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
• To apply uniform policies of CMS.
• It helps the medical suppliers and providers to communicate their services in a consistent manner.
• It is used for medical research and education by comparing the local, regional and national utilization.

Uses:

• It has three level. Level I consists of CPT manual that is used for health professionals to identify the medical services and procedures.
• It is also used by public and private health insurance to bill the services.
• Level II is used outside the physician's office to identify the services DMEPOS.
• Level III is used by the individualized state Medicare.