Alphabetic Index and Tabular List

Alphabetic Index and Tabular List are parts of ICD-10-CM, a morbidity classification
system. The Alphabetic Index is the first part of ICD-10-CM. It has a list of diagnostic terms
and their corresponding code (Hodorowicz, 2016). It is usually used like one would use a
phonebook. One searches for a given condition or treatment by name. The Alphabetic Index
provides the corresponding code. Thus, Alphabetic Index ensures that accurate codes are
entered for every diagnosis. The Tabular List is the second part of ICD-10-CM. It contains all
codes, their description, and instructions that are related to them (Hodorowicz, 2016). For
instance, the code E00-E90 describes different endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disorders
while the code G00-G99 contains descriptions of the diseases of the nervous system.

When coding, the correct procedure is to use both Alphabetic Index and Tabular List.
From the Alphabetic Index one gets the code for a patient’s condition while from the Tabular
List they get all the details about a given code (Parman, 2018). When one uses Alphabetic
Index alone, there is high likelihood of using a general code instead of a specific one that
more aptly describes the condition of the patient. For instance, when using Alphabetic Index
alone, one may record the code for hypertension to describe a patient’s condition. However,
when they check the code on the Tabular List, they will find far more specific codes under
the general hypertension code. For instance, they will find that there is a code for
hypertensive heart disease with and without heart failure. For hypertensive disease with heart
failure, they will even be a code specifying the type of heart failure.

Thus, using Alphabetic Index and Tabular List ensures that the code entered for a
patient’s condition is as accurate and as specific as possible. Having accurate and specific
codes for conditions of patients increases chances of the healthcare facility receiving

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reimbursement for its services without problems. It also helps to improve the patient’s disease
management.

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References

Hodorowicz, M. A. (2016). New ICD-10-CM coding system: a review of the basics. AADE in
Practice, 4(2), 12-15.

Parman, C. (2018). Still More ICD-10-CM Updates!. Oncology Issues, 33(6), 8-12.