Category

• The first three characters of any ICD-9-CM code range from 001 to 999, or from V01 through V86. These characters represent the category of classification. Codes between 001 and 999 indicate the disease- or injury-related reasons a person might seek medical attention. For example, the code 250 indicates that the patient has diabetes mellitus. The V codes, ranging from V01 to V86, cover patients whose medical care is not in direct response to a sudden onset. For example, V22 is the code used for routine obstetrical visits during an uncomplicated pregnancy.
  
  

Fourth and Fifth Digits

• After the first three characters of an ICD-9-CM code, the medical professional can provide more detailed information by including one or two extra digits following a decimal point. The additional fourth and fifth digits provide more specific information regarding the origin and symptoms of a disease or injury. For example, V22.0 indicates an uncomplicated first pregnancy and V22.1 indicates any other uncomplicated pregnancy. Some codes are overly broad at the three-character level and must include additional digits after a decimal point. Category 250 --- diabetes mellitus --- must include a fifth digit indicating its type and treatment. For example, the code 250.01 indicates the patient has controlled juvenile (type I) diabetes.
  
  

Combinations

• Occasionally, the ICD-9-CM code used to describe the primary reason for the medical visit may require additional explanation. For example, some infections may require an additional code from category 041 to identify the bacterium causing the infection. Some patients, especially in emergency room situations, are treated without having a confirmed diagnosis. Instead, doctors list the symptoms and signs for which the patient receives treatment. Multiple diagnosis codes from emergency room visits can sometimes provide other doctors with clues of what the root cause is.
  
  

Additional Information

• Certain V codes provide health information that is incidental to the actual visit. Other V codes describe the result of screening tests or counseling sessions. For example, the category V17 indicates the patient has a family history of certain chronic disabling diseases. Billers might authorize payment for certain procedures in light of these types of V codes that they would otherwise consider excluded services.