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Coding Basics Flashcards

6 cards from real ICD 10 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. What does ICD-10 stand for?

    Answer: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision

    ICD-10 is the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, maintained by the World Health Organization for classifying diseases and health conditions.

  2. How many characters can an ICD-10-CM code have?

    Answer: 3-7

    ICD-10-CM codes range from 3 to 7 characters, with the first three being the category and additional characters providing greater specificity.

  3. What does the first character of an ICD-10-CM code represent?

    Answer: A letter (A-Z, except U) indicating the chapter/category of disease

    The first character is always a letter that corresponds to a specific chapter of the ICD-10-CM classification, such as J for respiratory diseases.

  4. What is the difference between ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS?

    Answer: CM is for diagnosis coding; PCS is for inpatient procedure coding

    ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification) codes diagnoses across all settings. ICD-10-PCS (Procedure Coding System) codes inpatient procedures in hospitals.

  5. What is a placeholder character 'x' used for in ICD-10-CM?

    Answer: To fill positions when a code requires more characters but has no valid value for intermediate positions

    The placeholder 'x' fills empty character positions in codes that need a 7th character extension but do not have valid 4th, 5th, or 6th character options.

  6. What is the correct format for an ICD-10-CM code?

    Answer: A letter followed by two numbers, then a decimal point, then up to four alphanumeric characters

    ICD-10-CM codes start with a letter, followed by two numbers (the category), a decimal point, then up to four additional alphanumeric characters for specificity.

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Sources & references

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  1. cms.gov — Test delivery, exam format, passing score, retake policy, time limit · verified Sep 2026