ICD 10 Coding Guidelines 2

Question 1

Under ICD-10-CM guidelines, when a patient is admitted for treatment of a complication of surgery, how should the complication be coded?

Accepted Answer

As the principal diagnosis if it is the reason for admission

Answer

A complication that occasions the admission is sequenced as the principal diagnosis.

Question 2

What does the ICD-10-CM convention 'Code first' instruct the coder to do?

Accepted Answer

Sequence the underlying etiology before the manifestation

Answer

'Code first' directs that the underlying condition be sequenced before the manifestation code.

Question 3

When the documentation states a diagnosis is 'probable' or 'suspected' in the OUTPATIENT setting, the coder should:

Accepted Answer

Code the signs, symptoms, or reason for the visit

Answer

In outpatient settings, uncertain diagnoses are not coded; code the symptoms instead.

Question 4

The ICD-10-CM term 'Excludes1' indicates that:

Accepted Answer

The two conditions cannot be coded together

Answer

Excludes1 means 'not coded here'—the conditions are mutually exclusive.

Question 5

Which placeholder character is used in ICD-10-CM to fill empty positions when a 7th character is required?

Accepted Answer

X

Answer

The dummy placeholder 'X' fills empty character positions to allow a valid 7th character.

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