Healthcare Classifications and Terminologies

ICD-10-PCS is a classification system which is used for coding procedures and services provided in the inpatient setting of hospitals in the United States.

A crucial component of the ICD-10-PCS code set is the document, ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. Before working with ICD-10-PCS, the user of ICD-10-PCS should become familiar with all of these guidelines. Additionally the ICD-10-PCS user needs to learn the conventions, rules, and definitions related to the code set.

Figure 1 outlines the basic ICD-10-PCS coding steps.  Refer to the official coding guidelines for additional information on steps 1, 2, and 3. In addition to the ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, coding professionals should also be familiar with applicable coding advice found in American Hospital Association’s Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS as well as relevant payer-specific coding guidelines and facility-specific coding guidelines.

Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS

American Hospital Association publishes Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. It contains coding advice as designated by the four Cooperating Parties (American Hospital Association, American Health Information Management Association, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and National Center for Health Statistics) and the Editorial Advisory Board. This quarterly newsletter is available for purchase at www.codingclinicadvisor.com/