Rayan FaroukIn the UAE, understanding and correctly using CDT, CPT and ICD-10 codes is essential for dental practitioners and clinic owners. These codes are critical for accurate billing, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations and providing high-quality patient care. If you are new to the UAE, these clinical data codes are widely used and keep a sense of standardisation in all operation spots. So let’s educate you.
Let’s understand CDT, CPT and ICD-10 codes!
CDT (Current Dental Terminology) Codes
These are dental codes used for dental procedures and services. Each code represents a particular dental treatment, from routine cleanings to advanced surgical procedures. In UAE, CDT codes are widely used for dental finance and insurance claims, ensuring that dental services are correctly categorised.
Example: D1110 is Prophylaxis – Adult Treatment
Link of codes: https://www.premera.com/documents/044493.pdf
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) Codes
These are medical codes used for medical, surgical and diagnostic services across the different medical fields. It can also be used in the dental field. CPT codes are sometimes used in cases involving oral and maxillofacial surgery or medical insurance billing. The dual coding system (CPT and CDT) helps in aligning dental practices with broader medical standards.
Example: 21210 is Graft, bone; nasal, maxillary or malar areas (includes obtaining graft)
Link of codes: https://www.surgery.northwestern.edu/docs/cpt-codes.pdf
These codes are used for treatments and help standardize the treatment for billing, insurance and data transfer to important health regulators.
All health facilities integrated with Nabidh or Riayati should use the codes to describe clinical treatments. For the clinical problems and diagnosis, the codes used are ICD-10.
ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) Codes
These are a universal language for reporting and monitoring diseases and health conditions. These codes are crucial in documenting diagnoses. In the UAE, ICD-10 codes are used to ensure accurate communication between healthcare providers and to facilitate seamless interactions with international healthcare systems.
Link of codes: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/Health-Policy/Coding-Payment/ICD-10/icd-10-medical-diagnosis-codes.pdf
These codes are to be used accurately to secure appropriate filling for insurance companies. Incorrect or incomplete coding can lead to claim rejection, delayed payments and financial losses. Also, it ensures that patient records are accurate and comprehensive.
Educate your staff on using the codes, especially newcomers to the country. Keep track of the usage of the codes by conducting regular audits in your practice. Regular audits can help identify and correct errors before they lead to claim denials or compliance issues.
A simple solution that can help a lot is implementing an EMR system in your practice. Many EMR systems include the CPT, CDT and ICD-10 codes with their names to simplify the process.
As an example; Balsam Medico has implemented the codes into the system. When adding a treatment, simply search for the treatment name either by its full name or by its code and there it is. Also in adding the diagnosis, search for the name and the code is written next to the name. This will help streamline the process and make it easier for newcomers.
For the insurance or billings, Balsam Medico takes care of adding the correct codes of the treatment or diagnosis name the doctor has added. This substitutes the human error of adding the wrong code ensuring no false data is being transferred between the parties.
Mastering these codes is essential for the success of your practice in the UAE. So stay informed, leverage the technology and invest in teaching your staff to stay ahead of the game. Your commitment to accuracy will not only benefit your practice financially but also improve the quality of care you provide to your patients.
Want to learn more? You are always welcome to contact us for more information on the codes.
Connect with Us
Ready to embark on this exciting journey? Contact us today:
📍 Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Tel: +971 56 123 6043
📍 Khartoum, Sudan – Tel: +249 91 273 1048
Explore Balsam Medico and discover a world of efficient clinic management at www.balsammedico.com. Together, let’s reduce fines, elevate efficiency, and embrace a new era of dental healthcare.
Join the Balsam Medico newsletter for exclusive content and the latest news. Be the first to view valuable information and updates!
