In CPT coding, what does the symbol 'O' indicate?

In CPT coding, what does the symbol 'O' indicate?

• A. New code
• B. Abandoned code
• C. Optional service
• D. Reinstated or recycled code

Answer: (D)

In CPT coding, the symbol O signals that a code has been reinstated or recycled after having been deleted. This tells you the code is returning to active use, so you should verify the current descriptor and any changes since it last appeared. When you encounter this symbol, pull the current CPT notes for that code to confirm its status and ensure the service documentation matches the code’s present definition. This helps avoid using an outdated or inappropriate descriptor and aligns billing with the code’s current status.

In CPT coding, the symbol O signals that a code has been reinstated or recycled after having been deleted. This tells you the code is returning to active use, so you should verify the current descriptor and any changes since it last appeared. When you encounter this symbol, pull the current CPT notes for that code to confirm its status and ensure the service documentation matches the code’s present definition. This helps avoid using an outdated or inappropriate descriptor and aligns billing with the code’s current status.