Section 1: ICD-10-CM Coding Guidlines 2022/2023

A. Conventions for ICD-10-CM 1. The Alphabetic Index and Tabular List - Answer- The ICD - 10 - CM is divided into the Alphabetic Index , an alphabetical list of terms and their corresponding code, and the Tabular List, a structured list of codes divided into chapters based on body system or condition. The Alphabetic Index consists of the fol lowing parts: the Index of Diseases and Injury, the Index of External Causes of Injury, the Table of Neoplasms and the Table of Drugs and Chemicals A. Conventions for ICD-10-CM 2. Format and Structure: - Answer- The ICD-10- CM Tabular List contains categories, subcategories and codes. Characters for categories, subcategories and codes may be either a letter or a number. All categories are 3 characters. A three-character category that hasno further subdivision is equivalent to a code. Subcategories are either 4 or 5 characters. Codes may be 3,4, 5, 6 or 7 characters. That is, each level of subdivision after a category is a subcategory. The final level of subdivision is a code. Codes that have applicable 7th characters are still referred to as codes, not subcategories. A code that has an applicable 7th character is considered invalid without the 7th character.The ICD-10-CM uses an indented format for ease in reference. A. Conventions for ICD-10-CM 3. Use of codes for reporting purposes - Answer- For reporting purposes only codes are permissible, not categories or subcategories, and any applicable 7th character is required. A. Conventions for ICD-10-CM 4. Placeholder character - Answer- The ICD-10-CM utilizes a placeholder character "X". The "X" is used as a placeholder at certain codes to allow for future expansion. An example of this is at the poisoning, adverse effect and underdosing codes, categories T36-T50. ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting 2013 Page 8 of 113 Whe