CPC ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In ICD-10-CM, how many characters can a valid code have?
- 1–5 characters
- 3–7 characters (Correct answer)
- 4–8 characters
- 2–6 characters
Correct answer: 3–7 characters
ICD-10-CM codes range from 3 to 7 characters in length, always beginning with a letter.
Question 2: What does a placeholder character 'X' serve in ICD-10-CM coding?
- Indicates an unknown diagnosis
- Allows future expansion and fills empty character positions (Correct answer)
- Marks a code as unspecified
- Indicates a sequela
Correct answer: Allows future expansion and fills empty character positions
The placeholder 'X' is used to allow future code expansion and to fill empty character positions in a code.
Question 3: Which ICD-10-CM 7th character extension indicates an initial encounter for an injury?
- S
- D
- A (Correct answer)
- G
Correct answer: A
The 7th character 'A' designates an initial encounter, meaning the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition.
Question 4: What is the correct sequencing rule for coding outpatient visits?
- Code the chronic condition first
- Code the reason for the visit (first-listed diagnosis) (Correct answer)
- Always code the most severe diagnosis first
- Code confirmed diagnoses and suspected diagnoses equally
Correct answer: Code the reason for the visit (first-listed diagnosis)
For outpatient visits, the first-listed diagnosis is the condition chiefly responsible for the services provided.
Question 5: In ICD-10-CM, the abbreviation 'NEC' stands for:
- Not elsewhere classifiable (Correct answer)
- No established criteria
- Not entirely confirmed
- Needs electronic coding
Correct answer: Not elsewhere classifiable
NEC means 'not elsewhere classifiable' and is used when there is no more specific code available.
Question 6: When coding type 2 diabetes with diabetic chronic kidney disease, which code is sequenced first?
- The chronic kidney disease code
- The diabetes code (Correct answer)
- Either order is acceptable
- The manifestation code always comes first
Correct answer: The diabetes code
In etiology/manifestation coding, the etiology (diabetes) is sequenced first, followed by the manifestation (CKD).
CPC ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding 1
In ICD-10-CM, how many characters can a valid code have?