Explain what a dash means when it appears at the end of an ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry. What ...

1)  Answer: A dash appears at the end of an entry to indicate that additional characters are required (the code is not complete as shown).

2)  Answer: The higher level of specificity and additional detail in the codes allows for greater accuracy in coding, provides more and better data for use in healthcare quality measurement, improves the ability to track and respond to international public health threats, and makes it easier to be in compliance with HIPAA electronic transaction and code set requirements.

3)  Answer: If a code has not been coded to the full number of characters required for the code, including the 7th character, if applicable, it is invalid.

4)  Answer: ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to describe disease, morbidity, and mortality data.

5)  Answer: ICD-10-CM includes revised diabetes mellitus codes, and the 5th digits from ICD-9 will no longer be used.

6)  Answer: A combination code is one code that describes conditions that frequently occur together. It is a single code used to classify two diagnoses.

7)  Answer: The diagnosis requires two codes: (a) the code for the condition or nature of the late effect; (b) the cause of the late effect.

8)  Answer: The three key coding guidelines are: (a) code the primary diagnosis first, followed by current coexisting conditions, (b) code to the highest level of certainty, and (c) code to the highest level of specificity.

9)  Answer: The three volumes of the ICD-9-CM are Volume 1: Tabular/Numerical List of Diseases; Volume 2: Alphabetic Index of Diseases; and Volume 3: Tabular and Alphabetic Index of Procedures.

10)  Answer: The coder should use the alphabetic index (Volume 2) first to find the main term and code. After a code is found, the tabular list (Volume 1) should be used to confirm and find the most specific code.

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