Which statement best describes ICD-10-PCS codes?

• A. They code diagnoses in outpatient settings
• B. They code procedures for inpatient hospital settings
• C. They code patient demographic information
• D. They code professional services

Answer: (B)

ICD-10-PCS codes describe procedures performed during an inpatient hospital stay. The system uses seven-character alphanumeric codes that specify the procedure’s section, body system, operation, body part, approach, device, and any qualifier, providing precise documentation of what was done in the hospital. This differs from diagnosis coding, which uses ICD-10-CM, and from outpatient procedure coding, which uses CPT/HCPCS. Therefore, the statement that best describes ICD-10-PCS codes is that they code procedures for inpatient hospital settings.