Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Coding Policies and Guidelines (Coding)
CPT/Level I
(continued)
11-4
CPT Format
CPT codes are five characters in length (either all numeric or
numeric-alpha) and designed as stand-alone descriptions of
medical procedures. Some procedures in CPT are not printed in
their entirety but refer back to a common portion of the procedure
listed in the preceding entry. These are sometimes referred to as
indented procedures.
For example:
97010......Application of a modality to one or more areas; hot or
cold packs
97012......Traction, mechanical
The common part of the code 97010 is before the semicolon and is
also considered part of the code 97012. The full narrative for
97012 is “Application of a modality to one or more areas; traction,
mechanical.”
Guidelines
Guidelines are presented at the beginning of each of the main eight
sections. Some section subheadings may contain instructions or
information specific to those codes.
Code Symbols
Certain symbols may precede a code to indicate additional
information:
New CPT codes will be preceded by a bullet () symbol.
Revised CPT codes will be preceded by a triangle (▲) symbol.
Add-on CPT code will be preceded by a plus () symbol.
Codes that include conscious sedation will be preceded by a
target () symbol.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (07/12/12)