How to Find ICD-9 Procedure Codes

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is published by the World Health Organization. The ICD has been revised 10 times since it was first released in 1900. The current version is the ICD-10, which was released in 1999. However, the ICD-9 is still in use. The ICD is used to classify medical conditions, especially causes of death, around the world. In the United States, medical procedures are classified according to a Clinical Modification (CM) version of the ICD. The ICD-CM version is produced by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Although health providers in the U.S. use the ICD-CM version, it is commonly referred to as simply ICD-9 or ICD-10.

Things You'll Need

• Internet Connection
• Web Browser
• ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM

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Instructions

• 1

  Contact your doctor's office or hospital billing department if you are trying to find out what an ICD-9 or ICD-10 procedure code means that is listed on your invoice or insurance statement. This is the easiest and most accurate way to find out what your procedure code means. There are a number of websites that may be used to look up procedure codes, but because these sites are not affiliated with the publisher of the ICD-CM, the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed.

• 2

  Find ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes by first deciding which version of the ICD you need to use. If you are looking for procedure codes used in the United States, you will need the ICD-CM version. The ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM are available for purchase on CD-ROM or may be downloaded for free from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. The download is quite large and may require a utility to open the file.

• 3

  Begin by searching for the name of the procedure or diagnosis in the ICD-9-CM or the ICD-10-CM by looking up the term in the alphabetical index. This will give you the alphabetical procedure code. You must then verify the code by looking it up in the tabular list. The tabular list contains additional procedure codes that may provide a more accurate code than the codes found in the alphabetical index. Instructions are provided in both of the indexes to help locate and select the correct code.

• 4

  Ensure that you have found the most specific code possible for the procedure. ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes are composed of three to seven characters. Procedure codes must be coded to the highest degree possible up to the full seven-character code. Each additional level provides more specific information about the procedure performed. Three-character codes that can be coded further are not valid.