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2024 ICD-10-PCS Procedure Codes

What is ICD-10-PCS?

The ICD-10 Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) is a catalog of procedural codes used by medical professionals for hospital inpatient healthcare settings. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) maintain the catalog in the U.S. releasing yearly updates.

Each ICD-10-PCS code has a structure of seven alphanumeric characters and contains no decimals. The first character defines the major "section". Depending on the "section" the second through seventh characters mean different things.

Section 0 - Medical and Surgical

The medical and surgical section codes represent the vast majority of procedures reported in an inpatient setting. The value of the first character of the Medical and Surgical procedure codes is "0". The second character indicates the general body system (e.g., central nervous system, muscles, skin and breast, tendons, gastrointestinal, etc). The third character indicates the root operation, or specific objective, of the procedure (e.g., bypass, change, dilation, drainage, excision, etc). The fourth character indicates the specific body part on which the procedure was performed (e.g., duodenum). The fifth character indicates the approach used to reach the procedure site (e.g., open). The sixth character indicates whether any device was used and remained at the end of the procedure (e.g., synthetic substitute). The seventh character is a qualifier that may have a specific meaning for a limited range of values.

Section 1 - Obstetrics

Obstetrics procedure codes have a first character value of "1". The second character value for body system is Pregnancy. The root operations Change, Drainage, Extraction, Insertion, Inspection, Removal, Repair, Reposition, Resection and Transplantation are used in the obstetrics section, and have the same meaning as in the medical and surgical section.

Section 2 - Placement

Placement section codes represent procedures for putting an externally placed device in or on a body region for the purpose of protection, immobilization, stretching, compression or packing. Placement procedure codes have a first character value of "2". The second character value for body system is either anatomical regions or anatomical orifices. The root operations Change and Removal are contained in the placement section, and have the same meaning as in the medical and surgical section.

Section 3 - Administration

Administration section codes represent procedures for putting in or on a therapeutic, prophylactic, protective, diagnostic, nutritional or physiological substance. Administration procedure codes have a first character value of "3". The body system character contains three values: circulatory system, indwelling device, and physiological systems and anatomical regions. The circulatory body system is used for transfusion procedures.

Section 4 - Measurement and Monitoring

Measurement and monitoring section codes represent procedures for determining the level of a physiological or physical function. Measurement and monitoring procedure codes have a first character value of "4". The second character value for body system is either physiological systems or physiological devices.

Section 5 - Extracorporeal or Systemic Assistance and Performance

In extracorporeal assistance and performance procedures, equipment outside the body is used to assist or perform a physiological function. Extracorporeal assistance and performance procedure codes have a first character value of "5". The second character value for body system is physiological systems.

Section 6 - Extracorporeal or Systemic Therapies

In extracorporeal therapy, equipment outside the body is used for a therapeutic purpose that does not involve the assistance or performance of a physiological function. Extracorporeal therapy procedure codes have a first character value of "6". The second character value for body system is physiological systems.

Section 7 - Osteopathic

Osteopathic procedure codes have a first character value of "7". The body system character contains the value anatomical regions. There is only one root operation in the osteopathic section.

Section 8 - Other Procedures

The other procedures section includes acupuncture, suture removal and in vitro fertilization. Codes in this section have a first character value of "8". The second character value for body system is physiological systems and anatomical regions.

Section 9 - Chiropractic

Chiropractic section procedure codes have a first character value of "9". The second character value for body system is anatomical regions. There is only one root operation in the chiropractic section.

Section B - Imaging

Imaging procedure codes have a first character value of "B". Imaging section codes represent procedures including plain radiography, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, and ultrasound. Nuclear medicine procedure codes, including PET, uptakes, and scans, are in the nuclear medicine section. Therapeutic radiation procedure codes are in a separate radiation oncology section.

Section C - Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine section codes represent procedures that introduce radioactive material into the body in order to create an image, to diagnose and treat pathologic conditions, or to assess metabolic functions. The nuclear medicine section does not include the introduction of encapsulated radioactive material for the treatment of cancer. These procedures are included in the radiation oncology section. Nuclear medicine procedure codes have a first character value of "C". The second character specifies the body system on which the nuclear medicine procedure is performed. The third character root type indicates the type of nuclear medicine procedure (e.g., planar imaging or non-imaging uptake).

Section D - Radiation Therapy

Radiation oncology procedure codes have a first character value of "D". The second character specifies the body system (e.g., central nervous, musculoskeletal) irradiated. The third character root type specifies the general modality used (e.g., beam radiation) and the fifth character further specifies the radiation modality used (e.g., photons, electrons). The fourth character specifies the body part that is the focus of the radiation therapy. The sixth character specifies the isotopes introduced into the body, if applicable, or whether the beam used is a gamma beam or other photon. The seventh character is not specified in the radiation oncology section, and always has the value None.

Section F - Physical Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Audiology

Physical rehabilitation section codes represent procedures including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology. Osteopathic procedures and chiropractic procedures are in sections 7 and 9 respectively. Physical rehabilitation and diagnostic audiology procedure codes have a first character value of "F". The second character specifies the section qualifier Rehabilitation or Diagnostic Audiology. The third character specifies the root type.

Section G - Mental Health

Mental Health procedure codes have a first character value of "G". The second character is used to identify the body system elsewhere in ICD-10-PCS. Because body system does not apply in this section, the second character always has the value None. The third character specifies the root type, such as crisis intervention or counseling. The fourth character is a type qualifier (e.g., to indicate that counseling was educational or vocational). The fifth, sixth and seventh characters are not specified and always have the value None.

Section H - Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse treatment codes have a first character value of "H". The second character is used to identify the body system elsewhere in ICD-10-PCS. Because body system does not apply in this section, the second character always has the value None. The third character specifies the root type. Examples include detoxification services and individual counseling. The fourth character is a type qualifier that further specifies the procedure type. The individual counseling procedure further specified in the fourth character includes the values Cognitive Behavioral, 12-step, and Interpersonal. The fifth, sixth and seventh characters are not specified and always have the value None.

Section X - New Technology

Section X codes are standalone codes. They are not supplemental codes. Section X codes fully represent the specific procedure described in the code title, and do not require any additional codes from other sections of ICD-10-PCS. When section X contains a code title which describes a specific new technology procedure, only that X code is reported for the procedure. There is no need to report a broader, non-specific code in another section of ICD-10-PCS.