Reimbursement Coding in the United States HCPCS (pronounced “hick-pick”) is the acronym for the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. The system is a uniform method for health care providers and medical suppliers to report professional services, procedures and supplies. Prior to its development in 1983, there was no uniform system for coding. There are currently just two levels of HCPCS codes. Level 1 is the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). The CPT codes include five digit codes and two digit modifiers. Procedures are grouped within six major sections, one of which is for surgery. The major sections are further divided into subsections according to body part, service or diagnosis. The CPT book does not contain all the codes needed to report medical services and supplies so the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a second level of codes. These Level II codes—sometimes referred to as hick-pick codes - consist of a letter between A and V followed by four digits. They are grouped by the type of service or supply they represent and are updated annually by CMS with input from private insurance companies. Level II codes are required for reporting most medical services and supplies provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients and by most private payers. A third level for local differences was eliminated with the passing of the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA). Unfortunately, there are no CPT or Level II codes specific to any of our surgical products. However, the CPT code book includes codes for unlisted services and procedures. Some doctors have reported success using these codes: 93799—Unlisted cardiovascular service or procedure 64999—Unlisted procedure, nervous system 37799—Unlisted procedure, vascular surgery. Can also be used in transplant surgery