To create an import file, use an EMR system to export a flat file containing the procedure, diagnosis, or DRG codes. Each flat file must satisfy the following requirements:
-
The file format must be text (txt).
-
A file can contain only one code type (for example, ICD procedure codes). You cannot use one file to import multiple code types at once.
-
In each file, one of the first five lines must identify the type of codes being imported. The following table outlines the identifier for each type of code:
Identifier
Code Type
CPT
CPT procedure codes
Procedure
ICD procedure codes
Diag
Diagnosis codes
DRG
DRG codes
-
The file must define only one code per line.
-
For each line containing a code, the text up to the first space character must contain the code. The remaining text (up to the first group of three space characters) will be used as the description.
-
The code and description must be separated by at least one space character. A tab character is not counted as a space character.
The following example shows an import file for diagnosis codes. Notice the first line contains the Diag identifier.
