What type of services are primarily described by CPT codes?

CPT codes, or Current Procedural Terminology codes, are specifically designed to describe services and procedures performed by healthcare professionals, particularly physicians. The primary purpose of these codes is to provide a standardized method for reporting medical, surgical, and diagnostic services to facilitate billing and documentation.

When it comes to billing and coding, the use of CPT codes streamlines the communication between healthcare providers and insurance companies, ensuring that the services rendered are accurately captured and reimbursed. These codes encompass a wide range of services, including office visits, surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests, but they predominantly focus on the interventions performed by physicians.

The other options listed do not encapsulate the breadth and focus of what CPT codes represent. Non-physician services may be documented using different coding systems, clinical laboratory services may have specific codes under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), and while emergency room visits can indeed be described using CPT codes, they are simply one subset of the broader physician services category that CPT covers comprehensively. Thus, the correct answer highlights the core function of CPT codes in the healthcare system.