What is the primary function of the ICD-10-CM?

The primary function of ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) is to code morbidity data from patient medical records. This standardized coding system is essential for classifying and coding a wide variety of diseases and health conditions. By using these codes, healthcare providers can document diagnoses accurately and consistently, which facilitates the communication of patient information across different settings and healthcare providers.

Moreover, accurate coding is crucial for statistical tracking of disease prevalence, understanding health trends, and facilitating proper billing for healthcare services. It also plays a significant role in research and public health initiatives by allowing organizations to analyze data related to health outcomes and resource utilization effectively. This function of coding morbidity data reflects one of the core purposes of the ICD-10-CM system, ensuring that the healthcare industry has a unified way to categorize health-related information.