ICD 10 Review and Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During review, an Excludes1 note appears under a code. What does it mean?
- The two conditions can be coded together
- The excluded code should never be used with this code (Correct answer)
- It is only a suggestion
- It applies only to inpatient claims
Correct answer: The excluded code should never be used with this code
Excludes1 means the two codes are mutually exclusive and cannot be reported together.
Question 2: An Excludes2 note is found during assessment. What is the correct interpretation?
- The conditions are the same and cannot coexist
- The excluded condition is not part of this code but may be coded additionally if present (Correct answer)
- The code is invalid
- It forces deletion of the primary code
Correct answer: The excluded condition is not part of this code but may be coded additionally if present
Excludes2 indicates the excluded condition is separate and both may be coded when both exist.
Question 3: A reviewer sees 'Code first' instructions. What does this require?
- Coding the manifestation before the underlying cause
- Sequencing the underlying etiology before the current code (Correct answer)
- Ignoring the order entirely
- Coding only one of the two
Correct answer: Sequencing the underlying etiology before the current code
'Code first' requires sequencing the underlying condition ahead of the manifestation code.
Question 4: During an assessment, a 'Use additional code' note is present. This instructs the coder to:
- Delete the primary code
- Add a secondary code to provide a fuller picture (Correct answer)
- Replace the code with a Z code
- Skip the encounter
Correct answer: Add a secondary code to provide a fuller picture
'Use additional code' signals that a secondary code is needed for completeness.
Question 5: When validating combination codes, what do they classify?
- A single diagnosis only
- Two diagnoses, or a diagnosis with an associated manifestation or complication, in one code (Correct answer)
- Only external causes
- Only procedures
Correct answer: Two diagnoses, or a diagnosis with an associated manifestation or complication, in one code
A combination code captures two conditions or a condition with its manifestation/complication in one code.
Question 6: A reviewer encounters the abbreviation NOS. What does it signify?
- Not otherwise specified (unspecified) (Correct answer)
- Not on schedule
- New onset symptom
- No other sign
Correct answer: Not otherwise specified (unspecified)
NOS stands for 'not otherwise specified,' equivalent to unspecified.
Question 7: The abbreviation NEC is found during code review. It means:
- Not elsewhere classifiable (Correct answer)
- No established condition
- Newly entered code
- Non-emergency case
Correct answer: Not elsewhere classifiable
NEC means 'not elsewhere classifiable,' used when a specific code does not exist.
ICD 10 Review and Assessment 3
During review, an Excludes1 note appears under a code.
What does it mean?