What does the acronym NOS stand for in ICD coding?

The acronym NOS in ICD coding stands for "Not Otherwise Specified." This designation is used when a specific diagnosis does not have a more detailed description or when additional detail is not provided in the medical record. It serves as a placeholder to indicate that a clinician has indicated a condition or diagnosis but has not provided enough specific information to assign a more precise code. The use of NOS codes is important in medical coding as it helps to capture conditions without full specifications while maintaining consistency and clarity in coding practices.

The other options don't align accurately with standard terms used in coding. For instance, "Not Otherwise Stated" is not a recognized term in ICD coding; similarly, "National Office of Standards" and "Notable Obvious Symptom" do not apply in this context and do not represent accepted terminology in ICD medical coding practices.