What is the main focus of "Section III" in the ICD-10-CM coding guidelines?

The main focus of "Section III" in the ICD-10-CM coding guidelines is indeed on outpatient coding and reporting. This section is specifically designed to address the guidelines that apply when healthcare services are provided to patients in an outpatient setting. It provides coders with essential instructions on how to accurately assign codes based on the diagnoses and procedures that are documented in outpatient visits, ensuring appropriate reporting for reimbursement and statistical purposes.

The emphasis is on clarifying the coding process for situations commonly encountered in outpatient care, such as follow-up visits, routine check-ups, and encounters for preventive services. This understanding is crucial for coders to ensure compliance with regulations and to maintain the integrity of the coding process in outpatient settings. The other options, such as inpatient coding processes, emergency coding protocols, and global surgery definitions, pertain to different sections or aspects of coding guidelines and do not represent the primary focus of Section III.