A look at some general ICD-10-PCS guidelines
ICD-10-PCS is vastly different from the ICD-9-CM procedure codes inpatient coders currently use.
By now, you probably know that ICD-10-PCS codes must be seven characters in length. The letters I and 
O are not used to avoid confusion with the numbers 0 and 1.
You probably know that meaning of a body part value in the Medical and Surgical section always depends on the body system value. The body part value K in Lower Arteries represents the right femoral artery. In the Upper Bones body system, K represents the right ulna.
One of the purposes of the switch to ICD-10-PCS is increase specificity, so the following guideline should come as no surprise:
The procedure codes in the general anatomical regions body systems should only be used when the procedure is performed on an anatomical region rather than a specific body part (e.g., root operations Control and Detachment, Drainage of a body cavity) or on the rare occasion when no information is available to support assignment of a code to a specific body part.
Example: Control of postoperative hemorrhage is coded to the root operation Control found in the general anatomical regions body systems.
The ICD-10-PCS guidelines also instruct coders to query a physician if the documentation is insufficient.
About the Author: Michelle A. Leppert, CPC, is a senior managing editor specializing in outpatient coding for JustCoding.com, which provides coders, coding supervisors, and health information management (HIM) directors with educational resources to test their coding knowledge, employ correct coding guidelines, and stay abreast of CMS transmittals. 
