The 2019 CPT guide for professionals in the medical field is published by the American Medical Society with a focus on medical professionals such as billers, coders, doctors, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and others.
Used by health care providers to assist them in selecting the correct CPT code for E&M visits and procedures performed in multiple settings. It gives the guidelines needed for each CPT code.
Problems with the book
Unfortunately, the print copy is spiral bound. It easily rips and falls apart if you are not extra careful. The pages separate or tears away if it gets pulled or you try to turn to many pages at one time.
Even though the book gets damaged easily, there is lots of valuable information contained within it. There is also the option to purchase the kindle version to avoid the problem altogether.
Some of the problems with the spiral hard copy also includes the ink on the pages fading with time. However, I did not find this to be a problem with my copy. The pages still have the same ink color as when it was originally purchased.
Some people complained that when their hard copy was delivered in shrink wrap, it made a mess when unwrapped. There was “confetti” from the hole punches still trapped in the shrink wrapping. It is recommended that you open it over a garbage can or bag to contain the mess.
There will be limited modifiers and it does maintain focus on CPT codes. Therefore, if you need more information you will need to purchase additional resources.
Annual Updates
Keep in mind that CPT codes are updated a minimum of once annually. It will be ] very important to buy the current year’s issue if you are a professional coder/biller. If your a medical provider, you could get away with purchasing it every other year. But beware that CPT guidelines do change.
Check over your copy of CPT guide when it arrives
When you receive a copy of your CPT® 2019 Professional Edition, make sure to do a quick review to make sure all pages have been included and the layout is correct. Some have complained that pages were missing when it was delivered. Check the removable tabs, in the beginning, to make sure they are removable and not stuck on the paper which has happened to others.
Pricing
The pricing of the book is fairly high but when compared to some competitors, it is actually lower in price. Pricing ranged from $89 to $140 at the time of this review in August 2019. There are also used copies of the guide available but we do not recommend buying used.
Positive attributes of the book
This book has many positive values such as the ease of use to find CPT code information and includes the updates to the guidelines. The purchase of the book often comes with the CPT QuickRef app. This allows you for a quick lookup of your CPT codes using your phone or tablet
Many billing and coding students purchase this book as a home reference for taking the CPC exam. The book is an excellent reference for questions that may arise while studying. It will also help after taking the test as a reference book.
It is very extensive and well-formatted making it easy to find answers to your CPT questions. Medical providers will utilize it to find possible CPT codes that they can use in their medical practices to increase revenue.
The Index helps locate codes related to procedure, service, site, condition, synonym, eponym or abbreviation. There are clinical examples for review and include additions, deletions, and revisions of codes.
Conclusion
CPT® 2019 Professional Edition is a helpful reference book for medical professionals. However, be prepared for how easy it is to damage the binding of the book. The information contained within is accurate and easy to obtain. You will be happy with your purchase if it is primarily used in the office setting and doesn’t need to be taken to other locations.
