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 0, unlike the others, can be reached from a number of diagnosis/procedure situations. It is reached due to certain procedures, all of which are transplant-related. This is due to the expense involved for the transplants so designated and because these transplants can be needed for a number of reasons which do not all come from one diagnosis domain. DRGs which reach MDC 0 are assigned to the MDC for the principal diagnosis instead of to the MDC associated with the designated DRG.
MDC codes, like DRG codes, are primarily a claims and administrative data element unique to the United States medical care reimbursement system.
List of Major Diagnostic Categories
| MDC | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Pre-MDC |
| 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 |