CPT codes are referred to as Category _____ codes?

CPT codes are referred to as Category I codes because they represent the most commonly used codes in the Current Procedural Terminology coding system. Category I codes are specifically designed to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and procedures that are performed by healthcare providers. These codes are five-digit numeric codes that are regularly updated and serve as the foundation of medical coding, allowing for standardization in healthcare billing and reporting.

Category II codes, on the other hand, are supplementary tracking codes used for performance measurement. They provide additional information about services but are not required to report a procedure or service. Category III codes are temporary codes used for emerging technologies, services, and procedures that are not yet included in Category I. There is no official Category IV in the CPT coding system, which further clarifies why Category I is the correct answer in this context.