National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Practice Exam

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes created by the American Medical Association describe?

1. Reimbursable intervention units

2. Recommendations for weekly physical activity

3. Protocols for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

4. Risk management procedures used by most hospitals

The correct answer is: Reimbursable intervention units

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, developed by the American Medical Association, serve as a standardized system for identifying and describing medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and procedures. They facilitate the communication of health care information among clinicians and administrative personnel and play a vital role in the billing process, specifically in insurance reimbursement. Each code corresponds to a specific service or procedure that healthcare providers deliver to patients, thus enabling insurers to evaluate and reimburse claims more efficiently based on these established codes. In the context of the other options, recommendations for weekly physical activity do not pertain to CPT codes, as these codes are not meant for general health promotion guidelines. Similarly, protocols for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder are related to clinical guidelines rather than procedural coding. Lastly, risk management procedures, while important in the healthcare setting, do not fall under the definitions and specifications that CPT codes provide for billing and reimbursement of services. Therefore, the description of CPT codes as delineating reimbursable intervention units accurately captures their primary function within the healthcare system.