Medical Coding Practice Test

What does the term "code also" indicate in ICD-9-CM coding?

1. Secondary code requirement

2. Primary code for diagnosis

3. Stand-alone code for a condition

4. Additional coding options

The correct answer is: Secondary code requirement

The term "code also" in ICD-9-CM coding indicates a secondary code requirement. This means that when a specific condition or circumstance is present in addition to the primary diagnosis, a secondary code must be assigned to provide additional information about the patient's condition. This secondary code helps in providing a more detailed and accurate representation of the patient's overall health status, ensuring comprehensive and precise coding for medical records and billing purposes. The other options are incorrect because: - "Primary code for diagnosis" is not accurate as the term "code also" does not refer to the primary diagnosis code. - "Stand-alone code for a condition" is not correct since "code also" implies an additional code to be used alongside the primary diagnosis code. - "Additional coding options" is not the best choice as it does not specifically convey the requirement for a secondary code as indicated by the term "code also" in ICD-9-CM coding.