New Page 1

Click "Back" on your browser to return to your previous location OR click here
Walk through some of the reasons why the Cheat Sheet is so easy and SO fast! --

The Cheat Sheet is basically set up like a standard dictionary. Where applicable, listings are by anatomical site, like on this page section at 'hip'. In the case of 'hip' there are nearly 3 pages of entries. Notice that the diagnoses & procedures are listed together (The procedures are preceded by 'T' for treatment). On the next page, just across from this, you can see the codes for hip replacements. In other words, there is no looking in 2 separate directories for diagnoses & procedures. That saves a lot of time!

When anatomy is not obvious or stated, simply look up the given term. For example, cholecystitis, hepatitis, jaundice, etc. In this example display, you see hydrocephalus, hydronephrosis, and hydrophthalmos. The coder does not need to know that these problems are associated with the brain, kidney and eye. This makes it easy, even for someone unfamiliar with anatomy, to find a correct code!

Here you see examples of some conventions that make the Cheat Sheet easy to use and super fast! Notice Rabbit Fever refers you to Tularemia. You are referred because there are several codes for tularemia. If there was only one code for tularemia the code would be given here.
A favorite aspect of the Cheat Sheet to many users is the abbreviated codes. Example here - RA: rheumatoid arthritis. There are several hundred abbreviations coded. So the coder does not need to know the meaning - just look up the code and find out the meaning and code at one time! Another great time saver!
Also notice the 'Radiation ASSOCIATED' codes. Many condition occur frequently with one another. In this example at the beginning of entries about radiation you see 3 codes for conditions associated with radiation so you can code radiation exposure etc and often have the resulting condition code right there also!

You have seen that a 'T' beside an entry indicates that it is a procedure/treatment. You will also find 'P' and 'C' beside some entries. These are to specify 'Perinatal' and 'Congenital' diagnosis codes respectively. You also see numbers to the left of some entries. This is the case mix weight in the clinical dimension given to that diagnosis. The legend at the back of the Cheat Sheet elaborates on this. And in the 15th edition V codes are identified as to whether they may be used as first listed diagnosis only, additional diagnosis only or in either position (not shown in this example from earlier edition).

The Cheat Sheet is updated each year with new codes from CMS (formerly HCFA). The new codes are noted with an 'N' to the left. Codes that have become obsolete are removed each year.
Also note that all codes in the Cheat Sheet are 'complete'. There are no additional digits to look for. Every code is correct as is. This can save a lot of time and eliminate errors!