Which coding manual would you use to code an EKG?

• A. ICD-10-CM
• B. DSM-5
• C. HCPCS
• D. CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)

Answer: (D)

Focus on how medical coding is organized: procedures and services are billed with CPT codes, while diagnoses use ICD-10-CM and DSM-5 covers mental health disorders. An EKG is a procedure, so the CPT system is used to code the test itself and, if applicable, its interpretation and report. ICD-10-CM would document the reason for the test (the diagnosis), not the test itself. DSM-5 isn’t related to medical tests, and HCPCS covers some supplies and non-physician services but the standard way to code an EKG is with CPT. So the best choice is CPT, since it directly codes the procedure performed.