What is the meaning of the alpha character in ICD-10?
In the ICD-10 code set, the alpha character has a different meaning depending on where it is placed within the code. The first alpha character in every ICD-10-CM code identifies in what chapter it is placed. For example, “A” and “B” (A00-B99) are for the “Certain Infectious Diseases” chapters and “C” and half of the “D” chapters (C00-D49) for “Neoplasms”. In the middle of the ICD-10-CM are alpha characters. Here they do not have a specific meaning; they just expand the code set to allow for more codes. When placed at the end of a code, it usually means “episode of care”. For example, A = initial encounter, B = subsequent encounter, S = sequela. Another alpha character explanation at the end of the code will identify different types of fractures and/or the episode of care of a fracture. ICD-10-PCS is different. Each of the characters in the ICD-10-PCS system has a specific meaning. If you go through the code set, you will find that under every character (1-7), each character will mean s
In the ICD-10 code set, the alpha character has a different meaning depending on where it is placed within the code. The first alpha character in every ICD-10-CM code identifies in what chapter it is placed. For example, “A” and “B” (A00-B99) are for the “Certain Infectious Diseases” chapters and “C” and half of the “D” chapters (C00-D49) for “Neoplasms”. In the middle of the ICD-10-CM are alpha characters. Here they do not have a specific meaning; they just expand the code set to allow for more codes. When placed at the end of a code, it usually means “episode of care”. For example, A = initial encounter, B = subsequent encounter, S = sequela. Another alpha character explanation at the end of the code will identify different types of fractures and/or the episode of care of a fracture. ICD-10-PCS is different. Each of the characters in the ICD-10-PCS system has a specific meaning. If you go through the code set, you will find that under every character (1-7), each character will mean s
