Which coding system is used specifically for inpatient procedure encoding?

• A. CPT
• B. HCPCS
• C. ICD-10-CM
• D. ICD-10-PCS

Answer: (D)

Inpatient procedure encoding uses ICD-10-PCS. This code set is specifically designed for procedures performed during an inpatient hospital stay and is used for hospital facility billing. It differs from CPT, which codes outpatient procedures and physician services; HCPCS Level II codes cover supplies, devices, and some non-physician services; ICD-10-CM codes diagnose conditions rather than describe procedures. ICD-10-PCS has a seven-character structure and is dedicated to inpatient procedures, making it the appropriate system for that setting.