The ICD-10 Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (CM/PCS) – The Next Generation of Coding

Compared to the current ICD-9 classification system, ICD-10 offers more detailed information and the ability to expand specificity and clinical information in order to capture advancements in clinical medicine.

ICD-10-CM/PCS consists of two parts:

• ICD-10-CM — The diagnosis classification system was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for use in all U.S. health care treatment settings. ICD-10-CM diagnoses are 3 — 7 digits in length with the first digit being alpha, digits 2 and 3 being numeric and digits 4 — 7 are alpha or numeric.
• ICD-10-PCS — The procedure classification system was developed by CMS for use in the U.S. for inpatient hospital settings ONLY. The new procedure coding system uses 7 alpha or numeric digits while the ICD-9-CM coding system uses 3 or 4 numeric digits.

Examples of ICD-9-CM versus ICD-10-CM

ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes are 3 — 5 digits in length with the first digit being alpha (E or V) or numeric and digits 2 — 5 being numeric. For example:

• 496 — Chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified (NEC);
• 511.9 — Unspecified pleural effusion; and
• V02.61 — Hepatitis B carrier.

ICD-10-CM diagnoses are 3 — 7 digits in length with the first digit being alpha, digits 2 and 3 being numeric and digits 4 — 7 are alpha or numeric. The alpha digits are not case sensitive. For example:

• A66 — Yaws;
• A69.21 — Meningitis due to Lyme disease; and
• S52.131a — Displaced fracture of neck of right radius, initial encounter for closed fracture.