Final answer:
True, codes for symptoms, signs, and conditions should not be used as the principal diagnosis when a definitive diagnosis is established. Instead, ICD codes for the actual diagnosed conditions should be used to ensure accurate medical coding and billing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, "Codes for symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions are NOT to be used as a principal diagnosis when a related definitive diagnosis has been established," is true. When a medical professional can determine a definitive diagnosis, codes representing mere symptoms should not be used as the primary diagnosis. This is because the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are designed to be specific and are intended to categorize actual diagnosed conditions.
Symptoms and signs are nonetheless crucial in guiding healthcare providers towards reaching a definitive diagnosis. As a part of medical diagnosis, professionals analyze signs and symptoms, which can be similar across many diseases, requiring additional tests for a conclusive diagnosis. Medical coders rely on ICD codes to accurately reflect the condition diagnosed for billing and tracking purposes.