Which CPT symbol indicates a product pending FDA approval?

Which CPT symbol indicates a product pending FDA approval?

• A. Lightning bolt
• B. Star
• C. Circle with slash
• D. Hash

Answer: (A)

In CPT coding, symbols attached to codes flag special guidance or regulatory status. The bolt-shaped symbol is specifically used to indicate a product that is pending FDA approval. This tells you that the item described isn’t FDA approved yet, so you should verify the current FDA status and review payer policies before billing, since coverage and reimbursement can depend on whether approval has been granted and on how the product is used in practice. Once FDA approval is obtained, the status can change and billing guidance may be updated accordingly. The other symbols—star, circle with a slash, and hash—signal different kinds of notes or limitations and are not used to denote FDA approval status. They alert you to other coding considerations or instructions, but they don’t indicate whether a product is pending FDA approval.

In CPT coding, symbols attached to codes flag special guidance or regulatory status. The bolt-shaped symbol is specifically used to indicate a product that is pending FDA approval. This tells you that the item described isn’t FDA approved yet, so you should verify the current FDA status and review payer policies before billing, since coverage and reimbursement can depend on whether approval has been granted and on how the product is used in practice. Once FDA approval is obtained, the status can change and billing guidance may be updated accordingly.

The other symbols—star, circle with a slash, and hash—signal different kinds of notes or limitations and are not used to denote FDA approval status. They alert you to other coding considerations or instructions, but they don’t indicate whether a product is pending FDA approval.