Medical billing code explainer

Look up what a code on your bill actually means — in plain English.

Office visit codes

• 99202 New-patient office visit, straightforward complexity
• 99203 New-patient office visit, low-to-moderate complexity
• 99204 New-patient office visit, moderate complexity
• 99205 New-patient office visit, high complexity
• 99211 Established-patient visit, minimal (often nurse or staff)
• 99212 Established-patient office visit, straightforward complexity
• 99213 Established-patient office visit, low complexity
• 99214 Established-patient office visit, moderate complexity
• 99215 Established-patient office visit, high complexity

Emergency room codes

• 99283 Emergency department visit, moderate level (level 3 of 5)
• 99284 Emergency department visit, high-moderate level (level 4 of 5)
• 99285 Emergency department visit, highest level (level 5 of 5)

Preventive & wellness codes

• 99391 Routine well-baby preventive visit, infant under age 1 (established patient)
• 99395 Routine annual wellness visit, adult age 18-39 (established patient)
• 99396 Routine annual wellness visit, adult age 40-64 (established patient)

Lab test codes

• 36415 Routine blood draw (venipuncture)
• 80048 Basic metabolic panel (BMP)
• 80053 Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
• 80061 Lipid panel (cholesterol)
• 81001 Urinalysis with microscope review
• 83036 Hemoglobin A1c (long-term blood sugar)
• 84443 Thyroid test (TSH)
• 85025 Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
• 85027 Complete blood count (CBC) without differential

Imaging codes (X-ray, CT, MRI)

• 70450 CT scan of the head or brain, without contrast
• 71046 Chest X-ray, two views
• 72148 MRI of the lower (lumbar) spine, without contrast
• 73610 Ankle X-ray, at least three views

Heart & EKG codes

• 93000 EKG with interpretation (the complete test)
• 93005 EKG tracing only, no interpretation (the technical part)