Medical Coding Practice Test

How are E codes generally treated by carriers in ICD-9-CM?

1. As optional codes

2. As primary diagnosis codes

3. As anatomic terms

4. As classification codes

The correct answer is: As optional codes

E codes in ICD-9-CM are typically treated as optional codes. These codes provide supplementary information about the external causes of injuries, poisonings, or other adverse events. While they can be useful for providing a more detailed picture of how an injury or condition occurred, they are not typically required for insurance billing or reimbursement purposes. Carriers generally do not consider E codes as primary diagnosis codes, anatomic terms, or classification codes in the context of medical coding and billing.