AMA CPT® Assistant - 2014 Issue 7 (July)
ICD-10-CM Conventions (Part 2): Punctuation and Abbreviations (July 2014)
July 2014 pages 6-7 ICD-10-CM Conventions (Part 2): Punctuation and Abbreviations There are various conventions in the ICD-10-CM code set, and one of them is the instructional notes, which was previously discussed in the June 2014 CPT Assistant's ICD-10-CM Alert article entitled "Conventions of ICD-10-CM." To continue the discussion of the ICD-10-CM conventions, this article will focus on the use of abbreviations and punctuations in the ICD-10-CM code set. Abbreviations One of the types of conventions that is provided to help direct users is the abbreviations. There are two types of abbreviations in the ICD-10-CM code set and...
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Article Overview
This July 2014 CPT Assistant article covers foundational ICD-10-CM conventions focused on abbreviations and punctuation. It is aimed at coders, billers, and other coding professionals who need to understand how ICD-10-CM reference structure is presented in the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List. The discussion uses broad examples to illustrate how the conventions are displayed and why careful reading of the code set matters.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding ICD-10-CM conventions is important for navigating the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List accurately and for interpreting how documentation and code structure interact in official references.
Article Sections
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Abbreviations
Introduces the abbreviation conventions discussed in the article and places them in the context of ICD-10-CM reference use.
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NEC
Covers one of the abbreviation types and shows how it is presented with broad ICD-10-CM examples.
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NOS
Covers the other abbreviation type and provides general examples of how it appears in ICD-10-CM references.
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Punctuation
Explains the punctuation conventions used in ICD-10-CM and why punctuation differs from ordinary writing.
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Brackets
Describes how brackets appear in ICD-10-CM reference materials and how they are presented in example code listings.
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Parentheses
Describes the use of parentheses in ICD-10-CM reference materials and illustrates their role in example listings.
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Colon
Explains the colon convention in the Tabular List and includes broad examples of instructional-note formatting.
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Dash
Describes the dash convention for incomplete codes and shows how it is represented in an example search pathway.
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Comma
Explains the comma convention in ICD-10-CM and provides examples of how related terms are displayed.
What You Will Learn
- The main ICD-10-CM abbreviation conventions discussed in the article
- How punctuation conventions are presented in the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List
- The general purpose of brackets, parentheses, colon, dash, and comma in ICD-10-CM references
- Why understanding these conventions helps with interpreting ICD-10-CM source materials
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing professionals
- Coding auditors
- Healthcare documentation staff
- Coding educators
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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