Mixed Deck — All ICD 10 Topics Flashcards

How should you approach questions you find difficult during an exam?

Answer: Mark them for review, move on to easier questions, and return if time permits

Moving past difficult questions ensures you answer all questions you know, then return to harder ones with remaining time and possibly new insight from other questions.

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.

What is the principal diagnosis?

Answer: The condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for the patient's admission to the hospital

The principal diagnosis is determined after evaluation and is the condition that prompted the inpatient admission, which may differ from the admitting diagnosis.

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.

What ICD-10-CM chapter covers diseases of the musculoskeletal system?

Answer: Chapter 13 (M codes)

Chapter 13 covers diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue using M codes (M00-M99), including arthritis, back pain, and osteoporosis.

What ICD-10-CM code range covers neoplasms?

Answer: C00-D49

Neoplasms (tumors/cancers) are classified in Chapter 2 using codes C00-D49, with C codes for malignant and D codes for benign/uncertain behavior.

Which letters begin the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases?

Answer: A and B

Chapter 1 codes A00–B99 cover infectious and parasitic diseases.

A patient presents only to receive an influenza vaccination. Which code is first-listed?

Answer: Z23

Z23 is encounter for immunization, reported with the appropriate procedure code for the vaccine.

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.

What does the abbreviation 'NEC' indicate in ICD-10-CM?

Answer: Not elsewhere classifiable

NEC means 'not elsewhere classifiable,' used when no specific code exists for a documented condition.

What is a combination code in ICD-10-CM?

Answer: A single code that classifies both the diagnosis and a common symptom, manifestation, or complication together

Combination codes classify two diagnoses or a diagnosis with a complication in a single code, reducing the need for multiple codes.

What are 7th character extensions used for in ICD-10-CM?

Answer: Providing additional information such as initial encounter, subsequent encounter, or sequela

The 7th character often indicates the encounter type: A (initial), D (subsequent), or S (sequela), particularly for injury and fracture codes.

A prospective payment system is used by Medicare to pay for skilled nursing facilities. Reimbursement is dependent on the following criteria:

Answer: Per Diem

Medicare pays Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) using a prospective payment system based on a 'Per Diem' rate. This means a fixed payment is made for each day a patient is in the facility, with adjustments based on the patient's Resource Utilization Group (RUG) classification, which reflects the intensity of care needed. This differs from DRGs, which are used for inpatient hospital stays.

What is a trailing stop order?

Answer: A stop-loss that automatically adjusts upward as the price rises, locking in profits while protecting against reversals

Trailing stops move with the price in a favorable direction but stay fixed when the price moves against you, automatically locking in gains.

A seven-year-old boy comes in for a series of vaccinations. The MMR and DTaP vaccines are given to the patients, as well as vaccination counseling. What is the correct CPT code for this procedure?

Answer: 90460x2, 90461x4

For patients under 18 receiving vaccines with counseling, CPT code 90460 is used for the first component of each vaccine, and 90461 is used for each additional component. The MMR vaccine has 3 components (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), and the DTaP vaccine has 3 components (Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis). This results in two 'first components' (90460x2) and four 'additional components' (90461x4) for the two vaccines.

A patient had breast cancer excised two years ago, has no evidence of disease, and receives no treatment. How is this reported?

Answer: Z85.3

When the primary malignancy has been excised or eradicated with no further treatment and no evidence of disease, a personal history Z85 code is used.

What is the best approach to staying current in a rapidly evolving field?

Answer: Regularly read industry publications, attend workshops, take courses, and participate in professional communities

Multiple learning channels ensure comprehensive awareness of industry changes, new technologies, and evolving best practices.

Why is it important to read each question carefully on an exam?

Answer: Keywords like NOT, EXCEPT, ALWAYS, and NEVER can completely change what the question is asking

Misreading a question is one of the most common causes of incorrect answers. Key qualifiers change the entire meaning of what is being asked.

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.

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.