Key Concepts

Key concepts in this lesson:

• The ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index includes the Index to Diseases and Injuries, the Table of Neoplasms, the Table of Drugs and Chemicals, and the External Cause of Injuries Index.
• The Alphabetic Index sequences main terms alphabetically based on diagnosis, symptom, and condition.
• Default codes represent the condition commonly associated with the main term or show that it’s the unspecified code for the condition.
• The Tabular List is arranged in code number order. Since all ICD-10-CM codes start with a letter, all code categories are in alphabetical order according to the first characters.
• To choose an ICD-10-CM code, look up the term in the Alphabetic Index and then verify the code in the Tabular List.
• Use the Tabular List to choose the full code, including laterality and any applicable 7th character.
• A dash (-) at the end of an Alphabetic Index code entry means additional characters are needed. You can find these characters in the Tabular List.