Principal & Secondary Diagnosis Coding: Being Accurate and Compliant with ICD-10-CM

*This program has the prior approval of AAPC for 1.5 continuing education hours. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.

Revisiting the Official Guidelines for Coding Principal and Secondary Dx, and learn how to be compliant with ICD-10-CM Coding for both inpatient and outpatient settings

Clinical Coding must be based on provider documentation and Official Guidelines. Establishing a patient’s diagnosis is the sole responsibility of the provider. Knowing the Official Guidelines for Principal and Secondary diagnosis coding will help to ensure compliance is being met. Coding professionals should not disregard physician documentation and/or their clinical judgment of a diagnosis, based on clinical criteria published by AHA Coding Clinic or any other source. Sources such as Coding Clinic should be used to become familiar with clinical criteria for a condition to guide coding and CDI professionals in reporting the most accurate and specified diagnosis/procedure possible.

Ethical coding is not only morally sound, but helps to ensure state and federal law compliance and reduce risk for audit. False Claims Act (FCA) violations for improper coding can result in large fines and repayments.  Join this webinar of 90 minutes, that covers 30 mins overview presentation on Principal diagnosis guidelines and selection, specific to the hospital inpatient setting, while 60 mins presentation regarding the rules surrounding the coding and reporting of Secondary diagnosis, both inpatient and outpatient settings. AHIMA approved Coding Trainer and Speaker Gloryanne Bryant, will also analyze some coding case scenario’s which aides in enhancing ones coding skills. Neoplasm conditions that are coded as the principal or secondary diagnosis will be covered.

Certainly HIM & coding professional have challenges with coding, and the reporting of principal and secondary diagnosis is one of those areas. As coding and CDI professionals we need to know the “rules”. We need to understand the rules and guidelines in order to be compliant.

Session Objectives and Outcomes:

• Improve coding accuracy due to an enhanced understanding of the Official Guidelines for Coding & Reporting.


• Clarify confusion in Chapter Specific guidelines for Neoplasm Coding


• Practice coding and build skills through case scenario’s


• Enhance ones understanding of the coding guidelines and rules regarding principal diagnosis and secondary diagnosis coding.


• We are under great scrutiny today and this is not going to let up. Auditing is common place and to be expected but also challenging.


• The official coding and reporting guidelines are based on the coding and sequencing instructions in the Tabular List and Alphabetic Index of ICD-10-CM, but provide additional instruction.


• Adherence to these guidelines when assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes is required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Session Agenda and Highlights:

• Review key aspects of the Official Coding Guidelines that impact principal and secondary diagnosis coding


• Enhance knowledge regarding Chapter specific guidance for secondary diagnosis selection


• Learn key documentation to review and assist in the selection of principal and secondary diagnoses.


• Analyze and interpret case scenarios to enhance learning and build knowledge for accurate coding,  medical necessity and compliance.

Who Should Attend?

• Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Coding staff


• CDI staff


• Coding Auditors and coding educators


• Clinical Coding Management


• Clinical Coding data analysts


• Physician Office coding staff


• Coding Compliance staff and Management

Ask a question at the Q&A session following the live event and get advice unique to your situation, directly from our expert speaker.

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