#2 DRIP Line ICD-10 -CM Did you know... ICD-10-CM/PCS Examples: Structural Differences

by  Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
Oct 8th, 2014 - Reviewed/Updated Aug 9th

The examples below show the structural differences between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS.

 ICD-9-CM Diagnoses Codes:

• 3–5 digits
• First digit is alpha (E or V) or numeric
• Digits 2–5 are numeric; and Decimal is after third digit

Examples:

496 – Chronic airway obstruction, Not Elsewhere Classified (NEC)

511.9 – Unspecified pleural effusion

V02.61 – Hepatitis B carrier

ICD-10-CM Diagnoses Codes:

• 3–7 digits
• Digit 1 is alpha
• Digit 2 is numeric
• Digits 3–7 are alpha or numeric (alpha digits are not case sensitive)
• Decimal is after third digit

Examples:

A78 – Q fever

A69.21 – Meningitis due to Lyme disease

S52.131a – Displaced fracture of neck of right radius, initial encounter for closed fracture.

ICD-9-CM Procedure Codes:

• 3–4 digits
• All digits are numeric
• Decimal is after second digit

Examples:

43.5 – Partial gastrectomy with anastomosis to esophagus; and

44.42 – Suture of duodenal ulcer site.

ICD-10-PCS Procedure Codes:

• 7 digits
• Each digit is either alpha or numeric (alpha digits are not case sensitive and letters O and I are not used to avoid confusion with numbers 0 and 1
• No decimal

Examples:

0FB03ZX – Excision of liver, percutaneous approach, diagnostic; and

0DQ10ZZ – Repair upper esophagus, open approach.