Which organization primarily governs diagnostic coding standards in healthcare?

The organization that primarily governs diagnostic coding standards in healthcare is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS plays a crucial role in establishing and overseeing the standards and regulations for healthcare coding, particularly related to reimbursement and compliance for Medicare and Medicaid services. This includes the adoption of coding guidelines and ensuring that healthcare providers adhere to the standards necessary for accurately reporting diagnoses and procedures.

While other organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA) are influential in the healthcare landscape—especially in advocating for physicians and hospitals, respectively—they do not solely govern coding standards. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is involved in developing codes for mortality and morbidity statistics but does not oversee coding regulations in a comprehensive manner like CMS does. Thus, CMS stands out as the primary governing body for diagnostic coding standards within healthcare systems.