AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 1986 January - February; Coding Guidelines

Level of Specificity in Coding

Diagnostic and procedure codes are to be used at their highest level of specificity. Assign three-digit codes only if there are no four-digit codes within that code category. Assign four-digit codes only if there is no fifth-digit subclassification for that category. Assign the fifth-digit subclassification code for those categories where it exists. Examples Refer to the Tabular List, page 418, category 490, Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic. Code 490 has no fourth-digit subdivisions; therefore, the three-digit code is assigned. (For purposes of computer-assisted data processing, a zero (0) is added to provide four digits.) Refer to...

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