ICD-10-CA & CCI Standards Reference
Authoritative reference for Canadian diagnostic and procedure coding standards. ICD-10-CA 2024 · CCI 2024 · Canadian Coding Standards 2022.
ICD-10-CA — Diagnostic Code Structure
ICD-10-CA is the Canadian enhancement of the WHO ICD-10 classification, maintained by CIHI. Valid codes are 3 to 6 characters long.
CCI — Canadian Classification of Health Interventions
CCI codes are 7 to 10 alphanumeric characters long, structured across 6 fields separated by periods. The code length varies by section and whether all qualifier fields apply.
Excision total, rectum, abdominal [anterior] approach, pouch formation
| Field | Length | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field 1 | 1 char | Numeric | Section (1=Physical/Physiological, 2=Diagnostic, 3=Imaging, 5=Obstetrical, 6=Other) | 1 |
| Field 2 | 2 chars | Alpha | Group / Anatomy site | NQ = Rectum |
| Field 3 | 2 chars | Numeric | Intervention type | 89 = Excision total |
| Field 4 | 2 chars | Alpha | Qualifier 1: approach / technique | SF = Abdominal anterior |
| Field 5 | 2 chars | Alpha | Qualifier 2: agent / device / method (XX when not applicable; method only applies in Section 6) | XX = N/A |
| Field 6 | 1–2 chars | Alpha | Qualifier 3: tissue used (absent when not applicable) | G = Pedicled flap |
^^ — Rubric marker. The first 5 characters only. Never a complete codeable code.XX — Fills a qualifier field when that qualifier does not apply.CCI Code Attributes
Every CCI rubric has up to three attribute fields (S, L, E) that capture additional clinically important detail. The requirement to assign attributes is determined at national, provincial/territorial, and local levels — the colour in CIHI Folio shows whether that attribute is active for a specific rubric.
The same attribute can be pink for one rubric and yellow or grey for another, depending on national and local activation. The superscript number on each icon (e.g., S⁶³) is an internal identifier — not part of coded data.
Diagnosis Typing (DAD)
Diagnosis type assignment is mandatory for all data submitted to the DAD. Types M, 1, 2, 6, W, X, and Y are considered significant.
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| M | Most responsible diagnosis (MRDx) — the condition most responsible for the patient's length of stay |
| 1 | Pre-admit comorbidity — a condition that existed before admission |
| 2 | Post-admit comorbidity — a condition that arose after admission |
| 3 | Secondary diagnosis |
| 6 | Proxy most responsible diagnosis — assigned ONLY with an asterisk (*) code |
| 9 | External cause of injury — any code in range U07.7, V01–Y98 |
| 0 | Newborn abstracts only |
| W / X / Y | Service transfer diagnosis |
NACRS uses different types: MP (main problem) and OP (other problem).
Diagnosis Prefixes
Prefixes precede the diagnosis code and are mandatory to assign when applicable, with the exception of Prefix C (optional).