Which ICD-10 publisher should you choose, let us compare
Medical coding is a critical component of healthcare administration, and the ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification) manual plays an essential role in the coding process. Various publishers release different versions of the ICD-10-CM manual, each with its own unique features and tools designed to help medical coders accurately assign codes. Below is an overview of some of the major publishers of the ICD-10-CM manual, along with a comparison of the features that distinguish each publisher’s edition.
American Medical Association (AMA)
Publisher Overview:
The American Medical Association (AMA) is one of the most widely recognized and authoritative publishers in healthcare. Their ICD-10-CM manual is used by medical professionals, including coders and healthcare administrators, for accurate coding in clinical settings. ICD-10-CM 2025: The Complete Official Codebook includes official guidelines, provides the entire updated code set for diagnostic coding, and is organized to make the challenge of accurate coding easier. This codebook is the cornerstone for establishing medical necessity, correct documentation, determining coverage, and ensuring appropriate reimbursement.
Each of the 22 chapters in the Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is organized to provide quick and simple
navigation to facilitate accurate coding. The book also contains supplementary appendixes including a coding tutorial, pharmacology listings, a list of valid three-character codes, and additional information on Z-codes for long-term drug use and Z-codes that can only be used as a principal diagnosis.
Features and Benefits:
- Full list of code changes. Quickly see the complete list of new, revised, and deleted codes affecting the
CY2025 codes, including a conversion table and code changes by specialty. - QPP symbol in the tabular section. The symbol identifies diagnosis codes associated with Quality Payment Program (QPP) measures under MACRA.
- New and updated coding tips. Obtain insight into coding for physician and outpatient settings.
- Chapter 22 features U-codes and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) codes.
- Improved icon placement for ease of use.
- New and updated definitions are in the tabular listing. Assign codes with confidence based on illustrations and definitions designed to highlight key components of the disease process or injury and provide a better understanding of complex diagnostic terms.
- Intuitive features and format. Includes color illustrations and visual alerts, including color-coding and symbols that identify coding notes and instructions, additional character requirements, codes associated with CMS hierarchical condition categories (HCC), Medicare Code Edits (MCEs), manifestation codes, other specified codes, and unspecified codes.
- Placeholder X. This icon alerts the coder to an important ICD-10-CM convention–the use of a “placeholder X”
for three-, four– and five-character codes requiring a seventh-character extension. - Coding guideline explanations and examples. Detailed explanations and examples related to the application of
the ICD-10-CM chapter guidelines are provided at the beginning of each chapter in the tabular section. - Muscle/tendon translation table. This table is used to determine muscle/tendon action (flexor, extensor, other), which is a component of codes for acquired conditions and injuries affecting the muscles and tendons.
- Index to Diseases and Injuries. Provides a quick way to search for diseases and injuries codes in the 22 chapters of the Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries.
- Appendices. Supplement your coding knowledge with information on proper coding practices, risk-adjustment coding, pharmacology, and Z-codes.
Optum
Publisher Overview:
Optum is a leading provider of healthcare business solutions, particularly in the areas of medical coding and billing. Their ICD-10-CM manual is often used by large healthcare organizations, including hospitals and coding firms, because of its comprehensive and detailed features. The 2025 ICD-10-CM Expert for Hospitals with Guidelines, with our hallmark features and format, makes facing the challenge of accurate diagnosis coding easier for acute care and long-term care hospitals (LTCH). This codebook contains the complete ICD-10-CM code set, MCEs, and ICD-10 MS-DRG edits with symbols identifying codes for comorbidities/complications (CC) and major comorbidities/complications (MCC). Also identified are hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) and CMS hierarchical condition categories (HCC).
Key Features and Benefits:
- NEW – Optum Edge – ICONS for April updates. Easily distinguish between April and October new and revised codes with green icons for April and black for October changes.
- NEW – Optum Edge – Expanded Table of Drugs and Chemicals. Expanded to include updated drugs and codes listed with associated intent with icons to easily identify the added drugs.
- Optum Edge – Intuitive features and format. Visual alerts, including color-coding and symbols that identify coding notes and instructions, additional character requirements, placeholder X, Medicare Code Edits (MCE), manifestation codes, unspecified site codes, unspecified codes, HCCs, and more.
- Product Updates. April and other ICD-10-CM changes and updates, as well as updateable files for MCCs, CC Excludes PDx collection, and POA exempt codes will be made available on the Optum Product Update page on Optumcoding.com for our valued ICD-10-CM customers.
- Coding tips and clinical definitions. Coding tips assist in appropriate code selection, while clinical definitions provide a better understanding of complex ICD-10-CM diagnostic terms.
- List of code changes and conversion table. A list of all 2025 new, revised, and deleted codes. Plus, an ICD-10-CM conversion table from the new and changed codes to the code previously used.
- Updated index with shaded guides. The updated Index to Diseases and Injuries includes vertical shaded guides that show the indent levels for subentries under main terms.
- Guidelines with coding examples. Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting including chapter-specific coding examples.
- Detailed color anatomy illustration appendix. Plus, many illustrations at the code level identifying specific code-related anatomy.
- Supplementary appendixes. Additional information was provided for POA coding and reporting tutorial; code lists for CC, MCC, and other valuable appendixes.Please note: Amazon editions do not include snap-in tabs.
AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders)
Publisher Overview:
The AAPC is the leading professional association for medical coders and offers a variety of resources for healthcare professionals, including its own edition of the ICD-10-CM manual. 2025 Official ICD-10-CM Expert for Providers and Facilities.
ESSENTIAL! For 2025 codes and guidelines, AAPC’s ICD-10-CM Expert 2025 is a must-have resource for physician-based and facility-based clinical coders and coding students
Find codes faster, boost your productivity, and improve your accuracy. The unique design and features of the ICD-10-CM Expert 2025 code book will help you identify proper code sequence, code to the highest level of specificity, and ensure your code selection accurately reflects documented medical necessity.
Key features and benefits:
- 2025 ICD-10-CM code set with code descriptors for new and revised codes
- Summary of 2025 ICD-10-CM code changes in an easy-to-review appendix
- 2025 Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting with quick view flow charts to help students and professional coders meet compliance requirements
- 2025 chapter-specific guidelines before each chapter so you can quickly reference the guidelines you need for the codes you use most
- “Eye” symbols alert clinical coders that a specific code has a guideline reference
- Anatomy and physiology descriptions before Tabular List chapters provide information pertaining to specific body anatomy and diseases
- Special color coding throughout to highlight instructional notes, bilateral and unilateral indicators, and other features
- Symbols and highlights for Medicare code edits to highlight age, sex, manifestation, other specified and unspecified codes
- Indicators alert medical billers to MACRA codes required for MIPS quality and cost measures reporting
- Extension “X” symbol to alert coders to the ICD-10-CM placeholder “x” convention
- Appendix with Z codes for long-term use of drugs
- Symbol for Z codes used as the first-listed diagnosis
- Expanded online updates and tips to help you improve accuracy and efficiency
- Highlighted vertical lines orient the eye to the correct indentation throughout the Index to Diseases and Injuries
- Full-color anatomical illustrations at the front of the book and throughout the Tabular List
- Spiral binding allows your book to lay flat when open
Elsevier/Buck’s
Publisher Overview:
Selecting diagnosis codes is faster and easier with Buck’s 2025 ICD-10-CM for Physicians. Designed by coders for coders, this full-color manual includes all the ICD-10 codes that you need to code medical services provided in physicians’ offices and outpatient settings. As coders need extensive knowledge to code with ICD-10-CM ― and to choose from the thousands of possible codes ― this edition makes it easier with colorful anatomy plates (including Netter’s Anatomy illustrations) to help you understand anatomy and how it can affect your code choices. In addition, it comes with durable spiral binding and includes a companion website with the latest coding updates.
Features:
- NEW! Updated 2025 Official Code set reflects the latest ICD-10 codes needed for diagnosis coding.
- At-a-glance Guide to the 2025 ICD-10-CM Updates in the front of the book lists all new, revised, and deleted codes, providing quick lookup of the coding changes.
- Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (OGCRs) are listed in full in the Introduction, at the beginning of each chapter, and integrated within the code set, providing easier reference to coding rules when they are needed most.
- Unique! Full-color anatomy plates (including Netter’s Anatomy art) are included in a separate section for easy reference and cross-referenced within the Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries, to help you understand anatomy and how it may affect choosing codes.
- Full-color design includes consistent color-coded symbols and text, providing easier access to codes and coding information.
- American Hospital Association’s Coding Clinic® citations include official ICD-10-CM coding advice relating to specific codes and their usage.
- More than 190 illustrations provide visual orientation and enhance understanding of specific coding situations.
- Items are included throughout the Tabular List to ensure accurate coding, providing additional information on common diseases and conditions.
- Additional elements within specific codes define terms and add coding instructions relating to difficult terminology, diseases, and conditions, or coding in a specific category.
- Symbols and highlights draw attention to codes that may require special consideration before coding, including:
- New, Revised and Deleted
- Unacceptable Principal Diagnosis
- Codes that Call for the Use of Additional Character(s)
- Includes, Excludes 1, and Excludes 2
- Use Additional
- Code First and Code Also
- Placeholder X symbol reminds users to assign placeholder X for codes less than 6 characters that require a 7th character.
- Manifestation code symbol identifies conditions for which it is important to record both the etiology and the symptom of the disease.
- HCC symbol indicates diagnoses in the Tabular List associated with Hierarchical Condition Categories.
- Age and Sex edits from the Definition of Medicare Code Edits help to ensure accuracy by denoting codes that are used only with patients of a specific age or sex.
ICD10Data.com (also known as Optum360’s Online Platform)
Publisher Overview:
Though not a traditional “manual,” ICD10Data.com is an online platform that provides coders with access to the ICD-10-CM code set and associated tools. This is particularly useful for coders who prefer working digitally.
Features:
- Searchable Online Database: The online platform provides a searchable database of ICD-10-CM codes, making it easy to look up codes quickly.
- Up-to-date Information: The platform is continuously updated, ensuring that users have access to the most recent changes to the ICD-10-CM code set.
- Free Access: One of the most accessible platforms, ICD10Data.com offers a free online version of the ICD-10-CM code set.
- Interactive Tools: Includes tools for exploring code relationships, crosswalks from ICD-9 to ICD-10, and even code descriptions with explanations of each term.
Physician vs Hospital Edition:
You do not need both, but you will need to pick one. The Hospital Edition is more expensive, but it contains more images and also identifies CCs & MCCs that are critical for the CCS exam and actual inpatient work in a Hospital. So if you’re planning to pursue a career at a hospital, then the Hospital Edition is recommended. If you only want to add a credential and plan to work at a Physician’s office, then the Physician Edition is recommended. Both manuals are allowed in AAPC exams. The only determining factor for purchase is what career you plan to pursue once you’ve attained the credential.
Choosing the Right ICD-10-CM Manual
When selecting an ICD-10-CM manual, it’s important to consider the user’s experience level, the tools they need, and their preference for physical or digital resources. Here’s a quick comparison:
Publisher | Best For | Key Features |
---|---|---|
AMA | Medical professionals, coders | Comprehensive, color-coded, updated annually |
Optum360 | Large healthcare organizations | Real-world examples, coding tools, digital access |
AAPC | Professional coders, certification seekers | User-friendly, clinical scenarios, online tools |
ICD10Data.com | Coders needing quick, free, online access | Searchable database, free, up-to-date |
Elsevier/Bucks | Students, new coders | Illustrations, simplified navigation, glossary |
Choosing the right manual depends on the user’s needs, whether they prefer a digital interface, require extra educational tools, or need a manual designed for quick, real-time coding. Each publisher offers unique strengths that can suit different professional environments.
Prep your coding manuals for an exam: https://codingclarified.com/prep-your-medical-coding-manuals-for-aapc-cpc-exam/
ICD-10 Steps to Code:
https://codingclarified.com/medical-coding-steps-for-icd-10-cm/