Updated on: March 16, 2016

ICD-10-PCS CHARACTER ANALYSIS: Test Your Knowledge of Character 2 – Body System, Section Qualifier

By
Original story posted on: June 7, 2014

The process of constructing codes in ICD-10-PCS is designed to be logical and consistent: individual letters and numbers, called “values,” are selected in sequence to occupy the seven spaces of the code, called “characters.”   

For 15 of the 16 ICD-10-PCS sections, the second character defines the body system—the general physiological system or anatomical region involved. 

 

The only exception is the Physical Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Audiology section, where the second character defines the section qualifier, which specifies whether the procedure is a rehabilitation or diagnostic audiology procedure. 

Using ICD-10-PCS 2014 Tables, identify whether or not the following body systems exist in ICD-10-PCS. The first row has been completed as an example (the Answer Key is provided at the end of the test). To access the 2014 ICD-10-PCS electronic files go to: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/2014-ICD-10-PCS.html, scroll down and download the folder titled “2014 Code Tables and Index.” When you open the folder, you will see the following file: “PCS_2014.” This PDF file is the “ICD-10-PCS 2014 Tables and Index.” 

 

BODY SYSTEM 

 

EXISTS IN 

ICD-10-PCS? 

 

If “No,” what is the name(s) of this Body System in ICD-10-PCS? 

 

YES 

  NO 

Auditory System 

 

X

Ear, Nose, Sinus 

Cardiovascular System 

 

 

 

Digestive System 

 

 

 

Endocrine System 

 

 

 

Eye 

 

 

 

Female Genital System 

 

 

 

Integumentary System 

 

 

 

Lymphatic and Hemic Systems 

 

 

 

Male Genital System 

 

 

 

Musculoskeletal System 

 

 

 

Nervous System 

 

 

 

Respiratory System 

 

 

 

Urinary System 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER KEY (source is the ICD-10-PCS Table listings): 

 

BODY SYSTEM 

 

EXISTS IN 

ICD-10-PCS? 

 

If “No,” what is the name(s) of this Body System in ICD-10-PCS? 

 

YES 

  NO 

Auditory System 

 

X

Ear, Nose, Sinus 

Cardiovascular System 

 

X

Heart and Great Vessels 

Upper Arteries 

Lower Arteries 

Upper Veins 

Lower Veins 

Digestive System 

 

X 

Mouth and Throat 

Gastrointestinal System 

Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas 

Endocrine System 

X

   

 

Eye 

X 

 

 

Female Genital System 

X 

 

Female Reproductive System is the actual title used in ICD-10-PCS. 

Integumentary System 

 

X 

Skin and Breast 

Subcutaneous Tissue and Fascia 

Lymphatic and Hemic Systems 

X

 

 

Male Genital System 

X 

 

Male Reproductive System is the actual title used in ICD-10-PCS. 

Musculoskeletal System 

 

X

Muscles 

Tendons 

Bursae and Ligaments 

Head and Facial Bones 

Upper Bones 

Lower Bones 

Upper Joints 

Lower Joints 

Nervous System 

 

X

Central Nervous System 

Peripheral Nervous System 

Respiratory System 

X

 

NOTE:  Respiratory System procedures are also coded to the “Ear, Nose, Sinus” body system in ICD-10-PCS. 

Urinary System 

X

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Every reasonable effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this information at the time it was published. However, due to the nature of industry changes over time we cannot guarantee its validity after the year it was published.
Lolita M. Jones, MSHS, RHIA, CCS

Lolita M. Jones, MSHS, RHIA, CCS has provided Product Consultant services to a warehousing and analytics start-up that developed and marketed decision support software, health outcomes services, and regulatory compliance toolsets. Her goal is to combine her medical coding expertise with data mining-pattern recognition, to help improve data accuracy and compliance in medical coding and reimbursement (i.e., ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS Level II, modifiers, DRGs, APCs, and eAPGs). Ms. Jones also provides remote and on-site training/consulting in her newly developed Healthcare Data Mining Clinic educational series. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Data Analytics from a top university. Ms. Jones is based in New York and can be reached at .

Latest from Lolita M. Jones, MSHS, RHIA, CCS