What is the first character in ICD-10-CM?

alpha
Codes in the ICD-10-CM code set can have anywhere from three to seven characters. The more characters there are, the more specific the diagnosis. The first character is always alpha (i.e., a letter), but characters two through seven can be either alpha or numeric.

What does the 1st character of ICD-10 PCS indicate?

Medical and surgical procedure codes have a first character value of “0”. The second character indicates the general body system (e.g., gastrointestinal). The third character indicates the root operation, or specific objective, of the procedure (e.g., excision).

What is the placeholder character in ICD-10-CM?

x
The letter “x” serves as a placeholder when a code contains fewer than six characters and a seventh character applies. The “x” also allows for future expansion of the codes. When reporting ICD-10-CM codes, coders must add a placeholder so the seventh character is in the correct position.

Which character in ICD-10-CM codes is always a number?

To review: the first digit of an ICD-10-CM code is always an alpha, the second digit is always numeric, and digits three through seven may be alpha or numeric. Here’s a simplified look at ICD-10-CM’s format. The ICD-10-CM code manual is divided into three volumes.

What is the first step in looking up an ICD-10-CM diagnosis code?

Alphabetic Index
To determine the correct International Classification of Diseases, 10 Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code, follow these two steps: • Step 1: Look up the term in the Alphabetic Index (an alphabetical list of terms and their corresponding code); and • Step 2: Verify the code in the Tabular List (a …

What is an ICD-10-CM code?

The ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) is a system used by physicians and other healthcare providers to classify and code all diagnoses, symptoms and procedures recorded in conjunction with hospital care in the United States.

What is ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS?

ICD-10-CM. The U.S. also uses ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification) for diagnostic coding. ICD-10-PCS is used only for inpatient, hospital settings in the U.S., while ICD-10-CM is used in clinical and outpatient settings in the U.S. ICD-10-PCS has about 87,000 available codes while ICD-10-CM has about 68,000.

What is the ICD-10-CM used for?

The ICD-10-CM is a morbidity classification published by the United States for classifying diagnoses and reason for visits in all health care settings. The ICD-10-CM is based on the ICD-10, the statistical classification of disease published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

What is the seventh character in ICD-10?

The seventh character under ICD-10 defines the “type of encounter”. As I mentioned in my earlier article, sensibly and tactfully preparing for ICD-10 can be achieved successfully with a high level of transparency. Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable seventh characters.

What are the characteristics of the ICD-10-CM classification system?

Features that are new to ICD-10-CM include:

Added laterality.
Expanded codes.
Added seventh-characters for episode of care.
Combination codes for conditions and common symptoms or manifestations.
Combination codes for poisonings and external causes.
Addition of “X” placeholder.
Two types of excludes notes are now referenced.

What are the steps to proper ICD-10-CM coding?

A Five-Step Process

Step 1: Search the Alphabetical Index for a diagnostic term.
Step 2: Check the Tabular List.
Step 3: Read the code’s instructions.
Step 4: If it is an injury or trauma, add a seventh character.
Step 5: If glaucoma, you may need to add a seventh character.

What is the first step in assigning a code?

The correct procedure for assigning accurate diagnosis codes has six steps: (1) Review complete medical documentation; (2) abstract the medical conditions from the visit documentation; (3) identify the main term for each condition; (4) locate the main term in the Alphabetic Index; (5) verify the code in the Tabular …