What are HCPCS Level II codes used for?

HCPCS Level II codes are specifically designed to provide a standardized system for identifying non-physician services and supplies. These codes play a critical role in medical billing and coding by covering a wide range of items and services that are not included in the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, which focus primarily on physician services and procedures.

Examples of what HCPCS Level II codes encompass include durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs and oxygen tanks), prosthetic devices, outpatient hospital services, and various transportation services. This categorization allows healthcare providers to accurately bill for goods and services that are essential for patient care but do not fall under surgical or diagnostic procedures usually represented by CPT codes.

In contrast, other options pertain to aspects of healthcare coding that do not align with the specific purpose of HCPCS Level II codes. For instance, surgical procedures and patient diagnoses are more directly associated with CPT codes and ICD (International Classification of Diseases) codes, respectively. Documenting patient medical histories is a separate function in healthcare that does not directly relate to billing codes. Therefore, the identification of non-physician services and supplies is the most accurate use of HCPCS Level II codes.