Which coding system is primarily used for describing medical diagnoses?

The correct answer is the ICD-10-CM coding system, which stands for the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. This coding system is specifically designed for the classification of diseases and health-related conditions. It provides a comprehensive way to document diagnoses and allows healthcare providers to communicate effectively about patient conditions, treatment plans, and billing.

ICD-10-CM codes are essential in the healthcare system for various purposes, including tracking health statistics, billing for services, and ensuring proper patient care. They provide detailed diagnostic information that is used by providers to make clinical decisions and by payers to process claims.

In contrast, other coding systems like CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) focus primarily on procedures and services provided to patients rather than diagnoses. HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) includes codes for various health care procedures, supplies, and equipment, and while it does include some diagnostic components, it is not primarily focused on diagnosis coding. SNOMED (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine) is a comprehensive clinical terminology used primarily for electronic health records and is not designated specifically for the coding of medical diagnoses in the way that ICD-10-CM is.

Thus, ICD-10-CM is the correct choice