Which codes are primarily used for billing outpatient services?

The choice indicating that Category I Codes are primarily used for billing outpatient services is accurate because these codes are specifically designed to represent a wide range of medical procedures and services performed by healthcare providers. Category I Codes, found in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) system, classify services such as evaluations, surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests. They are the foundation of medical billing and are crucial for outpatient services as they reflect the services rendered during outpatient encounters.

In outpatient settings, healthcare providers rely heavily on Category I Codes to ensure accurate billing and documentation of the services provided to patients. These codes are often used in conjunction with Level II HCPCS codes and ICD-10 codes for more comprehensive billing, but the primary structure for outpatient procedure and service reporting is based on Category I Codes.

Other types of codes have specific roles that do not primarily focus on outpatient service billing. For instance, ICD-10 Codes are pivotal for diagnosis coding, while Category II Codes are optional codes that help track performance measures. Level I Codes generally refer to the CPT codes but are not specifically distinguished for outpatient coding in comparison to the broader Category I framework. Understanding the role of these categories helps ensure the proper coding and billing practices in outpatient healthcare settings.