ICD codes are designed to describe a patient's impairment using how many digits?

• A. Three digits
• B. Seven digits
• C. Two digits
• D. Five digits

Answer: (D)

ICD codes used to describe a patient’s impairment are five-digit diagnosis codes in the traditional ICD-9-CM system. The first three digits identify the general condition, and the additional one or two digits provide more detail such as the specific site, laterality, or severity. A decimal is placed after the first three digits, but the total digits number is five. Five-digit codes strike a balance between enough specificity and standardization, which is why they’re the typical length emphasized in this context. Note that newer ICD-10-CM codes can be longer and include letters, but the question targets the five-digit format.