Major Diagnostic Category

The Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC) are formed by dividing all possible principal diagnoses (from ICD-9-CM) into 25 mutually exclusive diagnosis areas.

The diagnoses in each MDC correspond to a single organ system or etiology and, in general, are associated with a particular medical specialty. MDC 1 to MDC 23 are grouped according to principal diagnoses. Patients are assigned to MDC 24 (Multiple Significant Trauma) with at least two significant trauma diagnosis codes (either as principal or secondaries) from different body site categories. Patients assigned to MDC 25 (HIV Infections) must have a principal diagnosis of an HIV Infection or a principal diagnosis of a significant HIV related condition and a secondary diagnosis of an HIV Infection.

MDC codes, like DRG codes, are primarily a claims and administrative data element unique to the United States medical care reimbursement system.

MDC	Description
0	Ungroupable
1	Nervous System
2	Eye
3	Ear, Nose, Mouth And Throat
4	Respiratory System
5	Circulatory System
6	Digestive System
7	Hepatobiliary System And Pancreas
8	Musculoskeletal System And Connective Tissue
9	Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue And Breast
10	Endocrine, Nutritional And Metabolic System
11	Kidney And Urinary Tract
12	Male Reproductive System
13	Female Reproductive System
14	Pregnancy, Childbirth And Puerperium
15	Newborn And Other Neonates (Perinatal Period)
16	Blood and Blood Forming Organs and Immunological Disorders
17	Myeloproliferative DDs (Poorly Differentiated Neoplasms)
18	Infectious and Parasitic DDs
19	Mental Diseases and Disorders
20	Alcohol/Drug Use or Induced Mental Disorders
21	Injuries, Poison And Toxic Effect of Drugs
22	Burns
23	Factors Influencing Health Status
24	Multiple Significant Trauma
25	Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

See also

• Diagnosis codes
• Medical classification

External links

• CMG versus DRG
• Utah Department of Health - description of MDC