- SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms) and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition) are both vital coding systems used in healthcare, but they serve distinct purposes and are employed by different stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem. In some healthcare systems, both coding systems may be used complementarily to fulfill different requirements.
- While the use of SNOMED is not a requirement, the federal government required EHRs to include SNOMED in their systems to be compliant with Stage 2 of Meaningful Use. [Reference]
- Per DHCS, SNOMED codes are considered supplemental data for HEDIS measures. [Reference]
| SNOMED-CT | ICD-10 |
|---|---|
| Primary Users: Primarily used by clinicians, healthcare providers, and health information systems. | Primary Users: Mainly used by health insurers, government health agencies, and researchers. |
| Purpose: Focuses on capturing clinical information in a comprehensive and detailed manner. It provides a standardized language for clinical documentation, facilitating interoperability and information exchange. | Purpose: Primarily designed for statistical and billing purposes. It classifies diseases and health-related issues for billing, epidemiological, and research purposes. |
| Governing Body: SNOMED International, a not-for-profit organization, is responsible for the maintenance and development of SNOMED CT. Input is gathered from a global community of healthcare professionals, clinicians, and experts. | Governing Body: The World Health Organization (WHO) oversees the development and maintenance of the ICD-10. Updates are typically made by an international committee of experts and are influenced by input from member countries. |
| Required by DHCS: No | Required by DHCS: Yes |
Updated 12/28/23