ICD-10-CM Coding Principles Flashcards
6 cards from real Certified Coding Associate Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ICD-10-CM Coding Principles flashcards as text
In ICD-10-CM, what does the term 'principal diagnosis' mean for inpatient coding?
Answer: The condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission
The principal diagnosis is the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the patient's admission to the hospital.
What is the correct sequencing rule when a patient is admitted for chemotherapy?
Answer: Sequence the encounter for chemotherapy (Z51.11) as the principal diagnosis
When a patient is admitted for chemotherapy administration, Z51.11 is sequenced as the principal diagnosis, followed by the malignancy code.
What does the ICD-10-CM instruction 'Code first' indicate?
Answer: A mandatory sequencing instruction requiring an underlying condition be coded first
The 'Code first' instruction is a mandatory sequencing note that requires the underlying condition or etiology to be sequenced before the manifestation code.
Which of the following is a valid ICD-10-CM code format?
Answer: K21.0
ICD-10-CM codes begin with a letter, followed by two digits, a decimal point, and up to four additional characters (e.g., K21.0).
In ICD-10-CM, what does the placeholder character 'X' indicate?
Answer: A dummy placeholder used to allow for future expansion or to fill a required position
The placeholder character 'X' is used in ICD-10-CM to allow for future expansion and to fill positions when additional characters are required.
What does the 7th character 'A' represent in ICD-10-CM injury codes?
Answer: Initial encounter
The 7th character 'A' in ICD-10-CM injury codes denotes the initial encounter, meaning the patient is receiving active treatment for the injury.