Which coding system is specifically designed for documenting hospital inpatient procedures?

The correct answer pertains to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system, which is specifically designed for documenting hospital inpatient procedures. CPT codes are utilized to report various medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and procedures performed by healthcare providers. Each CPT code typically represents a specific service or procedure, allowing for detailed and standardized reporting of what was done during a patient’s hospital stay.

This coding system is crucial in ensuring that healthcare providers are compensated accurately for the services rendered, and it facilitates communication among healthcare professionals. While other coding systems play important roles in healthcare documentation and billing, CPT is primarily focused on the direct reporting of the procedures performed.

The other options have distinct purposes: ICD codes are mainly for diagnosis coding and are not exclusive to inpatient procedures; HCPCS includes codes for supplies, equipment, and non-physician services; and DRG (Diagnosis-Related Groups) relates to classifications used for hospital billing but does not directly identify specific procedures in the same way that CPT codes do.