Level of Detail in Coding for ICD-10

ICD–10–CM diagnosis codes are composed of codes with 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 characters.

Diagnosis codes are to be used and reported at their highest number of characters available. Like ICD-9, it is the same hierarchical organization. Just as each character beyond three adds more specificity, the same concept applies in ICD-10.  Also, know that when there is a note under a code it applies to all codes in that category.

Characters: Codes with three characters are included in ICD–10–CM as the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of fourth and/or fifth and/or sixth characters, which provide greater specificity.

A three-character code is to be used only if there are no further subdivisions. A code is invalid if it has not been coded to the full number of characters required for that code, including the 7^th character, if applicable.

***You will need to learn to recognize when a code is incomplete or invalid! ***

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