ICD-10-CM codes are standard codes for what purpose?

• A. Procedures
• B. Billing rates
• C. Diagnoses
• D. Patient ages

Answer: (C)

ICD-10-CM codes are used to document diagnoses. They provide a standardized language to capture the patient’s health problems, conditions, and reasons for care in medical records, reporting, and billing. While procedures have their own coding systems (CPT or ICD-10-PCS for inpatient procedures) and patient age is a demographic detail, ICD-10-CM focuses specifically on the diagnosed conditions that drive care. This is why the correct choice centers on diagnoses.