Which coding system is used to classify diseases and related health problems?

• A. ICD (International Classification of Disease)
• B. CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
• C. SNOMED CT
• D. HCPCS

Answer: (A)

Classifying diseases and related health problems is done with the ICD system. ICD provides diagnosis codes that describe the patient’s conditions and the reasons for encounters, which supports counting and comparing health statistics, as well as billing and record-keeping. It’s specifically focused on what the patient has, not on the procedures performed.

CPT codes, on the other hand, cover procedures and services; SNOMED CT is a detailed clinical terminology used inside electronic health records to capture granular clinical concepts; HCPCS covers supplies and certain services not included in CPT. So, for identifying and grouping diseases and health problems, ICD is the appropriate system.