Codes for symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions are NOT to be used as a principal diagnosis when a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Question

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Codes for symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions are intended to supplement the main diagnosis, not replace it. If a definitive diagnosis has been made, that should be the primary diagnosis code, and a symptom or sign code should only be used to provide additional information about the patient's condition.

Codes for Symptoms, Signs, and Ill-Defined Conditions Are NOT to Be