Question

ICD-10-PCS was implemented in the United States to code

A) hospital outpatient diagnoses.
B) hospital inpatient diagnoses.
C) hospital inpatient procedures.
D) physician office procedures.

Answer 1

ICD-10-PCS is used to code hospital inpatient procedures in the United States. These codes are essential for documenting procedures, facilitating billing, and insurance processes, and are also used in labs and on death certificates for statistical purposes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ICD-10-PCS (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System) was implemented in the United States to code hospital inpatient procedures. Essentially, when a patient receives treatments or surgery in a hospital setting as an inpatient, medical coders use ICD-10-PCS codes to document the procedures performed. These codes are crucial for hospital revenue cycles, as they are used for billing and insurance reimbursement purposes.

ICD codes are also used in a broader clinical context. For instance, when a patient is treated for a viral infection, clinicians use ICD codes to order lab tests, prescribe treatments, and ensure that the medical laboratories conduct the appropriate tests. Medical billers then process insurance claims based on these codes. Additionally, ICD codes help vital-records keepers to record cause of deaths on death certificates, and epidemiologists rely on them for compiling morbidity and mortality statistics.

To answer the question, you would find an ICD code in a medical laboratory and on a death certificate, among other locations.