Solomon Copilot™What is a CPT code?
Those five-digit numbers on your itemized bill aren't decoration, each one sets a price. Learning to read them is the first step to catching an overcharge.
The code behind every charge
A CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code is a five-digit number identifying a specific medical service or procedure. Each code corresponds to a charge, so the codes on your bill are effectively the price tags.
Why they matter to you
Because each code maps to a benchmark price (such as the Medicare rate), you can compare what you were charged against what the code is generally worth. A charge many times above the benchmark is a flag worth disputing.
CPT 99285 is a high-acuity ER evaluation code with a 2026 Medicare benchmark of $172.72. A bill showing that code at $2,450 is charging more than 14× the benchmark, a clear dispute target.
Related code types
You may also see HCPCS codes (for supplies, drugs, and some services) and revenue codes (for billing categories). The principle is the same: each code is checkable.
Solomon maps every code on your bill against current benchmarks automatically, thousands of CPT codes, so you don't have to look anything up by hand.
Stop guessing. See your bill, line by line.
Solomon scans every charge against current benchmarks, flags the errors and overcharges, and writes the dispute letter they will answer.
Analyze My Bill →Common questions
Where do I find the CPT codes on my bill?
On the itemized bill, not the summary statement. If your bill only shows lump-sum totals, request a fully itemized version that lists each code.
What's a benchmark price for a CPT code?
A reference rate for what the service generally costs, the Medicare fee schedule is a widely used benchmark. Charges far above it are worth questioning.
Reviewed and updated 2026-05-31 by Nisha A. Kuttothara, J.D.