Introduction to the ICD-10-CM
You may have noticed that all the exams we've introduced have a required book in common. This book is the ICD-10-CM - the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification.
This book holds all the medical diagnosis currently recognized in the United States in an ordered and consistent system. Each country in the world is able to modify the core ICD-10 to suit it's needs. This is why "CM" is appended onto the end. It is "10" because it is an evolving system, there have been 9 before it. In fact, 11 is currently being used in many countries.
The evolving is why you need to test with the version updated for the year you test. The updates for 2024 included 395 new codes that do not exist in previous editions. There were also deletions, wording changes to codes and guidelines. As these code descriptions and guidelines are the final word on correct coding, you absolutely have to be aware of them. These changes are why a coder of twenty years is just as likely to frequently refer to the CM as is the newbie. It is essential.
It was created by the World Health Organization and adapted for USA uses by The National Center for Health Statistics (NHCS) which is under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The ICD-10-CM was originally instated on October 1, 2015. On every October 1st since then the new year's updates go into effect. This is the time coders get to unwrap and set up their brand new book. It can be like playing with a new, expensive toy.
As the ICD-10-CM is a government publication, it is freely accessible online. I prefer using the official CDC ICD-10-CM site. It has a browser tool, updates and other helpful links and information (it is also ad-free). It is still best to have a physical copy., and is a necessity for the exams. Each of the Big Two create their own versions but there are other publishers. If you are testing, the test guides may specify a specific publisher or edition, but may allow any published CM. Always verify before you buy!
Other posts will discuss the guidelines, setting up books for testing, and doing chapter by chapter deep dives.