ICD-10-PCS Section: X - New Technology

New Technology

Section X New Technology is a section added to ICD-10-PCS beginning October 1, 2015. The new section provides a place for codes that uniquely identify procedures requested via the New Technology Application Process or that capture other new technologies not currently classified in ICD-10-PCS.

The new section is simply a separate place for certain new technology procedures, such as infusion of new technology drugs, and was created because the public did not support adding any more of these types of codes to the other sections of ICD-10-PCS. Section X does not introduce any new coding concepts or unusual guidelines for correct coding. In fact, Section X codes maintain continuity with the other sections in ICD-10-PCS by using the same root operation and body part values as their closest counterparts in other sections of ICD-10-PCS. For example, the two new codes for the infusion of ceftazidime-avibactam, a new technology antibiotic that requires unique procedure codes for October 1, 2015, use the same root operation (Introduction) and body part values (Central Vein and Peripheral Vein) in section X as the infusion codes in section 3 Administration, which are their closest counterparts in the other sections of ICD-10-PCS.

In ICD-10-PCS, the information specified in the seventh character is called the qualifier, and the type of information specified depends on the section. In section X, the seventh character is used exclusively to indicate the new technology group.

The New Technology Group is a number or letter that changes each year that new technology codes are added to the system. For example, Section X codes added for the first year have the seventh character value 1, New Technology Group 1, and the next year that Section X codes are added have the seventh character value 2 New Technology Group 2, and so on. This is a much simpler use of the qualifier than in many other sections of ICD-10-PCS, such as the Medical and Surgical section.

Because it is only used to indicate the update year the code was created, there are no special coding instructions or requirements for the use of the qualifier, because all codes for a particular new technology procedure will all have the same qualifier. Therefore, the New Technology Group has no impact for correct coding. Its function is to allow the section to maintain consistency between the root operation and body part values of the other sections, as described above, and to allow the section to evolve over time, as medical technology evolves.

Coding Instruction

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.

For example, code XW04321 Introduction of Ceftazidime-Avibactam Anti-infective into Central Vein, Percutaneous Approach, New Technology Group 1, would be reported to indicate that Ceftazidime-Avibactam Anti-infective was administered via central vein. A separate code from table 3E0 in the Administration section of ICD-10-PCS would not be reported in addition to this code. The X section code fully identifies the administration of the ceftazidime-avibactam antibiotic, and no additional code is needed.

X2 - Cardiovascular System

XH - Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue, Fascia and Breast

XK - Muscles, Tendons, Bursae and Ligaments

XN - Bones

XR - Joints

XW - Anatomical Regions

XY - Extracorporeal

XT - Urinary System

XV - Male Reproductive System

XX - Physiological Systems

X2 - Cardiovascular System

XD - Gastrointestinal System

XF - Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas

XW - Anatomical Regions