Question

ICD-10-CM requires knowledge of medical terminology, and human pathophysiology (human disease). It's imperative that the medical coder follows the coding process. What are the steps of the coding process? What would happen if the coder located the mainterm in the ICD-10-CM Index, and did not verify the code in the ICD-10-CM Tabular List?

Answer 1

Steps in coding process

            Medical coding process include the following steps,

                                  * Initially locate the term which needed to be coded in the alphabetic

                                    index.

                                  * Then verifiy the code in the alphabetic index with code in the tabular list.

                                  * After verification follow the instructions present in the tabular list and alphebetic

                                     index about the term or condition for proper coding.( EG:Need of a 7th character

                                      when coding a medical condition).

* Medical coder must use both alphabetic index and tabular list because alphabetic index always not

give the information about a full code,for selecting a complete code including 7th characters if needed

and laterality (which side of the body is affected) tabular list is essential so when doing medical coding

coder use tabular list along with alphabetic index.