What is the coding system primarily used for medical diagnoses?

The coding system primarily used for medical diagnoses is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM). This system is designed to provide a standardized way to code and classify diseases, symptoms, and other health-related issues. It is crucial for ensuring accurate diagnosis documentation, facilitating billing and coding processes, and supporting public health reporting and research.

ICD-10-CM codes are comprehensive and cover a wide range of conditions, allowing healthcare providers to communicate specific diagnoses clearly and consistently. This level of specificity is vital for treatment planning, health statistics, and managing health care resources. The codes are also regularly updated to reflect changes in medical knowledge and practice.

In contrast, the other options serve different purposes within the healthcare environment. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is focused on coding medical procedures and services rather than diagnoses. The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) includes codes for services, products, and procedures, particularly those not covered by CPT. Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) are used for hospital billing and classify patient care based on diagnosis-related categories but are not specifically a coding system for individual diagnoses.