What is the standard used for diagnosis coding?


Editorial team Published on

The primary standard used for diagnosis coding in the United States is the ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification).

Key Details About ICD-10-CM

  • Purpose: Classifies and codes diagnoses, symptoms, injuries, and health conditions across all healthcare settings.
  • Regulation: Mandated under HIPAA for electronic health care transactions and medical billing.
  • Maintenance: Maintained jointly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
  • Structure: Utilizes alphanumeric codes ranging from three to seven characters to specify disease categories, anatomical sites, severity, and laterality.