Which statement correctly matches the code set to its purpose?

• A. CPT codes describe diagnoses; ICD-10-CM describe procedures
• B. ICD-10-CM codes describe diagnoses; CPT codes describe procedures/services performed
• C. CPT describes medications; ICD-10-CM describes billing
• D. ICD-10-CM describes billing; CPT describes scheduling

Answer: (B)

Understanding the purpose of each code set helps avoid confusion: ICD-10-CM is used to describe diagnoses, capturing the patient’s condition or reason for the encounter. CPT, or Current Procedural Terminology, is used to describe the procedures and professional services performed during the encounter, such as surgeries, office visits, imaging, and lab work. In claims processing, these two sets together convey what happened and why, which supports billing and reporting.

That combination—ICD-10-CM for diagnoses and CPT for procedures/services performed—is the correct match. The other statements mix up what each code set describes and sometimes assign billing or scheduling to the wrong system.