Which statements about using the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular List are true?

Which statements about using the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular List are true?

• A. Both Alphabetic Index and Tabular List Must Be Used
• B. Only Alphabetic Index Is Used
• C. Only Tabular List Is Used
• D. Neither Is Used

Answer: (A)

In ICD coding, you rely on both the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular List to arrive at the correct code. The Alphabetic Index helps you find candidate codes by listing terms and synonyms you see in the medical record. But it often points you to a range of possibilities or to a code that isn’t the final, official one. The Tabular List provides the definitive numeric codes, along with precise definitions, category and subcategory details, and any required notes about laterality, encounter type, or combination rules. So the proper process is to start with the Alphabetic Index to locate the relevant term, then verify and select the exact code in the Tabular List, ensuring it matches the documentation and is as specific as possible. If you used only one index, you’d risk either ending up with an ambiguous code (from the Alphabetic Index) or missing the exact final code because the Tabular List alone doesn’t guide you to the correct term. Likewise, choosing neither would skip essential steps in accurate coding.

In ICD coding, you rely on both the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular List to arrive at the correct code. The Alphabetic Index helps you find candidate codes by listing terms and synonyms you see in the medical record. But it often points you to a range of possibilities or to a code that isn’t the final, official one. The Tabular List provides the definitive numeric codes, along with precise definitions, category and subcategory details, and any required notes about laterality, encounter type, or combination rules. So the proper process is to start with the Alphabetic Index to locate the relevant term, then verify and select the exact code in the Tabular List, ensuring it matches the documentation and is as specific as possible.

If you used only one index, you’d risk either ending up with an ambiguous code (from the Alphabetic Index) or missing the exact final code because the Tabular List alone doesn’t guide you to the correct term. Likewise, choosing neither would skip essential steps in accurate coding.