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ICD-10-PCS Procedure Coding 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.

Read the first 6 ICD-10-PCS Procedure Coding flashcards as text

  1. How many characters does every valid ICD-10-PCS code contain?

    Answer: 7

    Every ICD-10-PCS code has exactly 7 alphanumeric characters. Each position has a set meaning, such as section, body system and root operation. ICD-10-CM codes can be 3 to 7 characters, but PCS codes are always 7.

  2. In the Medical and Surgical section of ICD-10-PCS, what does the 4th character represent?

    Answer: Body part

    The Medical and Surgical character order is: 1 Section, 2 Body System, 3 Root Operation, 4 Body Part, 5 Approach, 6 Device, 7 Qualifier.

  3. Which root operation means cutting out or off a portion of a body part, without replacement?

    Answer: Excision

    Excision removes only a portion of a body part. Resection removes all of a body part. Extirpation takes solid matter out of a body part. Detachment cuts off all or part of an upper or lower extremity.

  4. Which ICD-10-PCS approach value means 'Percutaneous Endoscopic'?

    Answer: 4

    Approach values: 0 = Open, 3 = Percutaneous, 4 = Percutaneous Endoscopic, 7 = Via Natural or Artificial Opening, 8 = Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic, X = External. A laparoscopic procedure is usually coded with approach 4.

  5. Why are the letters O and I never used in ICD-10-PCS codes?

    Answer: They would be confused with the numbers 0 and 1

    PCS leaves out the letters O and I so they cannot be mistaken for the digits 0 and 1, which appear very often in PCS codes.

  6. What does the value 'Z' usually mean in the 6th character (device) of a Medical and Surgical PCS code?

    Answer: No device

    In the device position, Z means 'No Device'. In the qualifier position, Z means 'No Qualifier'. Z is the standard placeholder when that character does not apply.

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