Mary Jo Bowie MS, BS, AAS, RHIA, RHIT

CHAPTER 30 Placement Section

Placement Section The third section within ICD-10-PCS is the Placement section. The character 1 value for the Placement section is 2.

Character 2—Body System The value of character 2, body system, has two values for the Placement section. W—Indicating anatomical regions Y—Indicating anatomical orifices

Character 3—Root Operations For the Placement section, there are seven root operations used: Change—Value of 0 Compression—Value of 1 Dressing—Value of 2 Immobilization—Value of 3

Additional Root Operations for Placement Packing—Value of 4 Removal—Value of 5 Traction—Value of 6

Applications Cast applications—To locate the Table for cast applications, the term “Immobilization” should be referenced in the Index. Dressing applications—To locate the Table for dressing applications, the term “Dressing” should be referenced in the Index.

Body Region or Body Orifices—Character 4 Character 4 in the Placement section indicates body region or body orifices. Body regions—There are 30 values that are used for body regions and are used with the body system value of W. Body orifices (Natural)—There are six values that are used with the body system value of Y.

Approach—Character 5 Since all placement procedures are performed directly on the skin or mucous membrane or performed indirectly by applying external force through the skin or mucous membrane, the approach is always external. The value is X.

Character 6—Devices For the Placement section, different values are used for character 6 for the W or Y Body Systems. Coders need to reference the Tables.

Character 6 for the W Body Systems For the W Body Systems, there are 12 possible values for character 6. The values indicate the device placed during the procedure, such as a cast, splint, bandage, etc. Except for casts for fractures and dislocations, devices are off the shelf and do not require extensive adjustment. If extensive adjustment is required, the rehabilitation section should be used.

Character 6 for the Y Body System For the Y Body System, there is only one value 5 indicating packing material. Use of this value indicates that packing material remained in the body after the procedure.

Character 7—Qualifiers For the Placement section, the qualifier value is always Z, indicating no qualifier.

Key Points to Remember The first character value for the Placement section is 2. The second character value for the Placement section indicates either anatomical region or body orifice. The third character value has seven possible values.

Additional Points The fourth character value in the Placement section indicates body region or body orifices. The fifth character value is always External with a value of X.

Final Points For the sixth character value, there are different values for the W and Y body systems. For the seventh character value for the Placement section, the value is always Z, no qualifier.

Coding Practice Select the code for the following: Removal of Splint, right shoulder

Coding Practice Solution Main term to reference in index: Removal Modifying term: Arm, then upper, right Code Assignment: 2W5AX1Z