Lecture Notes: Understanding the Qualifier Character 7 in ICD-10-PCS Codes

Introduction

• Presenter: Terry Tropin
• Background:
  • Master's in Healthcare Administration and Informatics from the University of Maryland Global Campus
  • RHIA and CCSP certification
  • AHIMA approved ICD-10 trainer
  • Over 20 years of teaching experience at Montgomery College
  • Author of coding study guide books available on Amazon

Qualifier Character 7 in ICD-10-PCS Codes

• Purpose: Indicates the qualifier used in a PCS code
• Characteristics:
  • No specific guidelines
  • Provides additional information or modifies the meaning of the other characters
  • Not all procedures require a qualifier
  • If no qualifier, use value "Z"

Types of Qualifiers

Qualifiers for Root Operations

• Biopsies:
  • Qualifier "X" for diagnostic procedures (e.g., biopsy)
  • Example: Fine needle aspiration biopsy of fluid in the lung
• Irreversible Electroporation: Low energy electrical impulses to destroy tissue
• Cell Suspension Technique: Used in skin and breast for replacement procedures

Qualifiers for Specific Procedures

• Gastrectomy (Vertical Sleeve):
  • Specific type of excision for weight loss
• Ultrasonic Fragmentation:
  • Used in the cardiovascular system for clot fragmentation

Body Part Qualifiers

• Bypass Procedures:
  • Body part indicates the area bypassed from
  • Qualifier indicates the area bypassed to
• Transfer Procedures:
  • Body part value is the deepest layer involved
  • Qualifier indicates other layers
• Detachment Procedures:
  • Body part indicates the location of detachment
  • Qualifiers like high, mid, low, complete, and partial specify more detailed information

Qualifiers for Replacement and Transplantation

• Replacement Procedures:
  • Indicate the tissue used to replace a body part
  • Example: Replacement of thumb with toe
• Transplantation:
  • Qualifiers describe the type of tissue (e.g., allogeneic, syngeneic, zooplastic)

Special Cases

• Creation Procedures:
  • Used for sex change and heart valve creation
  • Qualifiers indicate the new sex or tissue used
• Approach-Based Qualifiers:
  • Provide more information on how the procedure was conducted (e.g., anterior/posterior approaches)

Devices and Qualifiers

• Devices:
  • Qualifiers provide additional information about devices used
  • Example: Drug-coated balloon for dilation procedures

Conclusion

• Study Tips:
  • Note down definitions and examples in personal coding books
  • Refer to Tropin’s books for guidelines and summaries

Further Learning

• Books by Terry Tropin available on Amazon for deeper understanding

Contact Information: For questions or comments, refer to the contact details provided by Terry Tropin.

These notes provide a structured overview of the use of the qualifier character 7 in ICD-10-PCS codes, capturing key content from Terry Tropin's lecture.