How to Find ICD-10 Codes: 3 Methods for Fast, Accurate Code Lookup
- Jan 31, 2025
Finding the correct ICD-10 code quickly is essential for medical coders, billers, and healthcare providers. This guide covers three effective methods to search and find ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, from instant keyword search to AI-powered clinical note analysis.
Method 1: Keyword Search (Fastest)
The quickest way to find ICD-10 codes is using our full-text keyword search. This method works best when you know the diagnosis name, a symptom, or a partial code.
How to Search
- Go to Search ICD-10 Codes
- Type your search term (diagnosis, symptom, or code)
- Results appear instantly as you type
- Click any result to view full code details
Search Tips for Better Results
Search by diagnosis name:
- "diabetes" → All diabetes-related codes
- "pneumonia" → All pneumonia codes
- "fracture femur" → Femur fracture codes
Search by symptom:
- "chest pain" → Symptom codes for chest pain (R07.-)
- "shortness of breath" → Dyspnea codes
- "abdominal pain" → Abdominal symptom codes (R10.-)
Search by code:
- "E11" → Jump to Type 2 diabetes category
- "J18" → Pneumonia codes
- "I10" → Essential hypertension
Search by common abbreviations:
- "HTN" → Hypertension codes
- "COPD" → Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- "UTI" → Urinary tract infection codes
Filter Options
- Billable only - Show only codes valid for claims submission
- Version - Toggle between 2025 and 2026 code sets
Method 2: Browse by Chapter (Exploratory)
When you need to explore related codes or understand the code hierarchy, browsing by chapter is the best approach.
ICD-10-CM Chapter Structure
ICD-10-CM organizes 72,000+ codes into 21 chapters by body system:
| Chapter | Codes | Body System/Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A00-B99 | Infectious diseases |
| 2 | C00-D49 | Neoplasms (cancers) |
| 3 | D50-D89 | Blood disorders |
| 4 | E00-E89 | Endocrine/metabolic (diabetes) |
| 5 | F01-F99 | Mental/behavioral disorders |
| 6 | G00-G99 | Nervous system |
| 7 | H00-H59 | Eye disorders |
| 8 | H60-H95 | Ear disorders |
| 9 | I00-I99 | Circulatory system (heart, HTN) |
| 10 | J00-J99 | Respiratory system |
| 11 | K00-K95 | Digestive system |
| 12 | L00-L99 | Skin disorders |
| 13 | M00-M99 | Musculoskeletal |
| 14 | N00-N99 | Genitourinary |
| 15 | O00-O9A | Pregnancy/childbirth |
| 16 | P00-P96 | Perinatal conditions |
| 17 | Q00-Q99 | Congenital malformations |
| 18 | R00-R99 | Symptoms/signs |
| 19 | S00-T88 | Injury/poisoning |
| 20 | V00-Y99 | External causes |
| 21 | Z00-Z99 | Health status factors |
How to Browse
- Start at ICD-10-CM Chapters
- Click the relevant chapter (e.g., Chapter 9 for heart conditions)
- Navigate through sections (e.g., I10-I16 for hypertension)
- Drill down to specific billable codes
When to Browse vs Search
Use browsing when:
- You want to see all codes in a category
- You need to understand code relationships
- You're looking for alternative or more specific codes
- You're learning the ICD-10-CM structure
Use search when:
- You know the diagnosis name
- You need to find a code quickly
- You have a partial code to start with
Method 3: AI Clinical Note Analyzer (From Documentation)
Our AI-powered analyzer automatically extracts ICD-10 codes from clinical documentation. This method is ideal when working with physician notes, discharge summaries, or other medical records.
How It Works
- Go to AI Clinical Note Analyzer
- Paste your clinical note or documentation
- The AI identifies diagnoses, symptoms, and conditions
- Review suggested codes with confidence scores
- Select appropriate codes for your use case
Best Uses
- Medical coders - Extract codes from physician documentation
- Billing staff - Verify documentation supports billed codes
- Chart review - Audit coding accuracy against clinical notes
- Education - Learn how conditions map to ICD-10 codes
Sample Analysis
Input clinical note:
> "65 year old male with history of type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy stage 3. Also has essential hypertension, well controlled. Presents today with acute bronchitis."
AI-suggested codes:
- E11.22 - Type 2 diabetes with diabetic CKD
- N18.3 - CKD stage 3
- I10 - Essential hypertension
- J20.9 - Acute bronchitis, unspecified
Tips for Better Results
- Include the full clinical note for context
- Specific documentation produces more specific codes
- Review all suggested codes - AI may identify conditions you missed
- Verify laterality and specificity match documentation
Tips for Effective ICD-10 Code Search
1. Start Broad, Then Narrow
Begin with a general search term, then refine:
1. Search "diabetes" - see all diabetes codes
2. Notice E11 (Type 2) vs E10 (Type 1)
3. Click E11 to see complications
4. Find E11.22 for diabetes with CKD
2. Use Synonyms
Medical conditions often have multiple names:
- "Heart attack" or "myocardial infarction" or "MI"
- "High blood pressure" or "hypertension" or "HTN"
- "Kidney failure" or "renal failure" or "CKD"
3. Check Related Codes
After finding a code, check:
- Parent category - Are there more specific options?
- Sibling codes - Alternative diagnoses to consider
- Excludes notes - Codes that cannot be used together
4. Verify Billability
Always confirm your selected code is billable:
- Look for the "Billable" indicator
- Non-billable codes need more specificity
- Some codes require 7th character extensions
5. Use the Right Version
Toggle between 2025 and 2026 code sets as needed. New codes are added each October, and some codes are revised or deleted.
Quick Access Links
Most-used search pages:
| Resource | Best For |
|---|---|
| Keyword Search | Quick code lookup by name |
| AI Analyzer | Extracting codes from notes |
| ICD-10-CM Index | Browsing by chapter |
| ICD-10-PCS Browser | Procedure codes |
| Common Codes | Specialty-specific lists |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to find an ICD-10 code? Use keyword search. Type the diagnosis or symptom and results appear instantly.
How do I find codes for multiple diagnoses? Use the AI analyzer - paste the full clinical note and it will identify all documented conditions.
Can I search by ICD-9 code? Yes! Use our ICD-9 to ICD-10 converter to find equivalent codes.
How do I know if a code is billable? Each code page shows billability status. You can also filter search results to show only billable codes.
Where do I find ICD-10-PCS procedure codes? Use the ICD-10-PCS Browser to navigate sections, body systems, and operations.
Start Finding Codes
Choose the method that fits your workflow:
- Search by Keyword - Type and find instantly
- Browse by Chapter - Explore the hierarchy
- AI Analyzer - Extract from clinical notes
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Data sourced from CMS.gov. Updated for 2026 codes (effective October 1, 2025).