CPT / HCPCS Code Lookup
Enter a CPT or HCPCS procedure code to get its description, Medicare reimbursement rate, and billing context. Free, no signup required.
Try these common codes
Click any code below to auto-fill the lookup:
What are CPT codes?
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are a standardized system maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA) that assigns a unique five-digit numeric code to every medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedure. When you receive healthcare, the provider translates each service into one or more CPT codes for billing purposes.
CPT codes are the language of medical billing. Every line item on your itemized bill should have a CPT or HCPCS code next to it. Understanding what these codes mean is the first step to checking your bill for errors.
CPT vs. HCPCS codes
While often used interchangeably, CPT and HCPCS are technically different systems:
- CPT (Level I HCPCS): Five-digit numeric codes (e.g.,
99213) that cover physician services and procedures. Maintained by the AMA. - HCPCS Level II: Five-character alphanumeric codes starting with a letter (e.g.,
J1885for ketorolac injection) that cover supplies, equipment, drugs, and services not in CPT. Maintained by CMS.
Both types appear on medical bills. This lookup tool covers both CPT and HCPCS Level II codes.
CPT code categories
CPT codes are organized into ranges by service type:
- 99201-99499: Evaluation and Management (E/M) — office visits, hospital visits, consultations
- 00100-01999: Anesthesia services
- 10004-69990: Surgery — organized by body system
- 70010-79999: Radiology — X-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound
- 80047-89398: Pathology and Laboratory — blood tests, tissue analysis
- 90281-99607: Medicine — vaccines, infusions, physical therapy, psychiatric services
Why CPT codes matter for your bill
The CPT code determines how much you are charged. A single digit difference can mean hundreds of dollars. For example:
99213(level 3 office visit) has a Medicare rate of approximately $11099214(level 4 office visit) has a Medicare rate of approximately $16599215(level 5 office visit) has a Medicare rate of approximately $220
If a provider codes your routine 15-minute checkup as a level 4 visit instead of a level 3, you pay roughly $55 more. This is called upcoding, and it is one of the most common billing errors.
Check your entire bill at once
Looking up codes one at a time? Upload your full bill to BillError and we will check every code against NCCI bundling rules, Medicare rates, and 14 other billing rules automatically.
Scan your bill freeUnderstanding Medicare rates
The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) is published by CMS and defines what Medicare pays for every CPT code. While private insurers negotiate their own rates, the Medicare rate serves as an important benchmark. Hospital charges that exceed 300-500% of the Medicare rate are a red flag worth investigating.
Medicare rates vary by geographic location due to the Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI), which adjusts for local differences in physician work costs, practice expenses, and malpractice insurance. The rates shown by this tool use national averages. Your local Medicare rate may be slightly higher or lower depending on your region.
How to use Medicare rates to check your bill
While hospitals and private practices can charge more than Medicare rates, the Medicare rate gives you a baseline for comparison. If a provider charges $2,000 for a procedure that Medicare reimburses at $200, that is a 10x markup and worth questioning. Reasonable private rates typically range from 1.5x to 3x the Medicare rate, depending on the service and market.
About this tool
This lookup tool queries the NLM Clinical Tables API for code descriptions and our Medicare rate database for reimbursement data. The NLM (National Library of Medicine) maintains an authoritative database of CPT and HCPCS codes. Medicare rates are from the CMS Physician Fee Schedule.
For comprehensive bill analysis covering duplicate detection, NCCI bundling violations, upcoding patterns, provider verification, and more, use the full BillError scanner.