What type of information is typically stored in a Chargemaster (CDM)?

A Chargemaster, also known as a Charge Description Master (CDM), is a comprehensive listing used by healthcare facilities that contains detailed information about the services and items that healthcare providers sell to patients. The correct answer involves the description of services and revenue codes, which are fundamental to billing and coding processes.

The Chargemaster serves as the central source for billing information, linking specific procedures and items with their corresponding codes, such as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, and applicable revenue codes. This structured format allows for standardized billing across various insurance payers.

While billing codes are a component of the Chargemaster, simply stating "billing codes only" does not capture the full scope of information included in the Chargemaster. It goes beyond just the coding aspect to encompass descriptions and associated revenue codes as well.

Employee information and patient demographics are not included in the Chargemaster. Employee records are typically maintained in human resources systems, while patient demographic information is part of the electronic health record (EHR) databases. Neither of these areas relates directly to the financial and service-related information stored in the Chargemaster, which focuses specifically on billing processes associated with services provided.