icd-10-cm requires seven characters for each code.

by Prof. Berenice Maggio Sr. 6 min read

Layout and Organization ICD-10-CM is a seven-character, alphanumeric code. Each code begins with a letter, and that letter is followed by two numbers. 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.

Structure of ICD-10 Codes
ICD-10-CM codes consist of three to seven characters. Every code begins with an alpha character, which is indicative of the chapter to which the code is classified. The second and third characters are numbers. The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh characters can be numbers or letters.
May 20, 2021

Full Answer

How many characters should my ICD-10 code be?

Jun 14, 2012 · Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable seventh characters. Chapter 19 – “Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external cause” require a 7 th character, or as notes in the tabular list instruct. The seventh character also must always be the seventh character in the data field.

What are the characteristics of an ICD-10-CM code?

Apr 15, 2020 · ICD-10-CM is a seven-character, alphanumeric code. Each code begins with a letter, and that letter is followed by two numbers. The first three characters of ICD-10-CM are the “category.” The category describes the general type of the injury or disease. The category is followed by a decimal point and the subcategory.

What is the placeholder character in ICD 10 cm?

Jun 13, 2020 · Layout and Organization ICD-10-CM is a seven-character, alphanumeric code. Each code begins with a letter, and that letter is followed by two numbers. 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. Consequently, what is the maximum number of …

Is there a 7th character extension in ICD-10-CM?

International Classification of Diseases, 10th REVISION, Clinical Modification. ... ICD-10-CM requires seven characters for each code. True False. False. ICD-10-CM, when compared to ICD-9-CM, will provide better data for conducting research. True False. True. The seventh character in ICD-10-CM is known as an extension.

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How many characters does an ICD-10-CM code have?

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. Let's take a look at an example.Oct 20, 2020

Do all ICD-10-CM codes have seven characters?

All ICD-10-CM codes have seven characters. There are 21 chapters in the ICD-10-CM. There are combination diagnosis/symptom codes. Only the first four characters of some codes are given.

What are the 7 character of ICD-10 defines?

The 7th character represents the type of encounter, or phase of treatment; this could be an initial encounter, a subsequent encounter, or a sequela (previously known as a late effect).Nov 14, 2019

How many digits are in a ICD-10 code?

ICD-10-CM codes may consist of up to seven digits, with the seventh digit extensions representing visit encounter or sequelae for injuries and external causes.

What does each character mean in ICD-10-CM?

Each code begins with a letter, and that letter is followed by two numbers. The first three characters of ICD-10-CM are the “category.” The category describes the general type of the injury or disease. The category is followed by a decimal point and the subcategory.

How many characters are contained in category codes?

Characters for categories, subcategories, and codes may be either a letter or a number. All categories have three characters. A three-character category that has no further subdivision is equivalent to a code.

What 7th character in ICD-10-CM is used for as long as the patient is receiving active treatment for a fracture?

Use 7th character A, initial encounter, “for each encounter where the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition.” The takeaway there is that “initial” does not always mean “first” for ICD-10-CM 7th characters.Feb 22, 2021

What is the 7th character referred to as in ICD-10-PCS?

In ICD-10-PCS the seventh character defines the qualifier – i.e., an additional attribute of the procedure, if applicable.

What is the correct 7th character in ICD-10-CM for a healing comminuted fracture?

For aftercare of an injury, coders should assign the acute injury code with the appropriate seventh character "D" (or expanded choices for fractures) for subsequent encounter.

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.

How many characters are used in all ICD-10-PCS codes?

seven characterICD-10-PCS has a seven character alphanumeric code structure. Each character contains up to 34 possible values.

What does the CM stand for in ICD-10-CM?

Clinical ModificationICD-10-CM, which stands for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, contains two code sets. They are ICD-10-CM, Clinical Modification; and ICD-10-PCS, Procedure Coding System.Dec 16, 2020

How many characters are in a code?

1. Codes are alphanumeric and may be up to 7 characters in length. 2. 1st character is always alpha; alpha characters may appear elsewhere in the code as well. (Alpha characters are NOT case sensitive.) 3. 2nd character is always numeric. 4. The remaining 5 digits may be any combination of alpha/numeric. 5.

What is the 7th character in ICd 10?

The seventh character, "A", is an extension which, in this example, means "initial encounter". The 5th and 6th character sub-classification represent the most accurate level of specificity. All ICD-10 codes will begin with one of the following letters of the alphabet; the alpha characters are not case sensitive.

What does "S" mean in medical terminology?

"S" (Sequela) - Complications that arise as a direct result of a condition.

How many characters are in ICd 10?

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. Let’s take a look at an example.

What is the letter S in ICd 10?

In this instance, the letter “S” designates that the diagnosis relates to “Injuries, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes related to single body regions.”

Who is Melissa Hughes?

Melissa Hughes is a senior content writer for WebPT. As a trained award-winning journalist and a forever learner, she uses her passion for education and really bad puns to inform her writing—and ultimately to help rehab therapists achieve greatness in practice.

What is a multiple site code?

For conditions involving multiple sites, such as osteoarthritis, there is often a “multiple sites” code. If no “multiple sites” code is available, you should report multiple codes to indicate all of the different sites involved. In some treatment scenarios, the bone is affected at the lower end (e.g., Osteoporosis, M80, M81).

What chapter is musculoskeletal?

Most bone, joint, or muscle conditions resulting from healed injuries appear in Chapter 13 (the “M” chapter). This chapter also includes most recurrent bone, joint, or muscle conditions.

What is Chapter 13?

Some codes in Chapter 13 (Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue) may need external cause codes in addition to the musculoskeletal condition code to help identify the underlying cause for the condition.

Can you use a Z code as a primary diagnosis?

Yes , you can use Z codes as primary when there is no other option for a primary diagnosis. Per the official ICD-10-CM guidelines for coding and reporting, "Z codes may be used as either a first-listed (principal diagnosis code in the inpatient setting) or secondary code, depending on the circumstances of the encounter.".

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Pregnanct and 7th Character Extensions

  • For pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium covered under Chapter 15, the 7th character extension captures information about the fetus. Certain complications of pregnancy are specified by the 7th character, and in the case of multiple gestations, the 7th character helps to distinguish which fetus(es) are affected by the diagnosis being coded.
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Initial Encounters, Subsequent Encounters, and sequela

  • Initial Encounters, Subsequent Encounters, and Sequela -- not to be confused with "Encounters of The Third Kind." When the patient is receiving active treatment for an injury, the initial encounter "A" seventh character extension is used in the 7th data field of the code. "Initial encounter" can be misleading; in fact, it does not necessarily have to be the patient's first visit. As long as the patie…
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7th Character For Fractures

  • The 7th character extension in ICD-10-CM codes for fractures provides even greater specificity including detailed information about open versus closed fracture, routine versus delayed healing, and malunion or nonunion. The Gustilo classification divides fractures into classes based on the mechanism of injury, extent of soft tissue damage, and degre...
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