External causes of morbidity
This chapter covers ICD-10-CM codes in the range V00-Y99 for external causes of morbidity. Includes external causes of morbidity such as accidents, intentional self-harm, assault, and complications of medical care.
Chapter Overview
Key Statistics
- •Contains 21 categories and 201 total codes
- •Includes 24 billable codes and 177 non-billable codes
- •Chapter range: V00-Y99
Clinical Relevance
Provides cause, intent, and place information for injuries and poisonings. Essential for trauma registries and public health surveillance.
Documentation Requirements
Requires activity, place of occurrence, and status of person. Intent determination is critical for accurate coding.
Special Considerations
Used secondary to injury codes. Important for epidemiological tracking and prevention programs.
Categories in this Chapter
Transport accidents
Accidents
Air and space transport accidents
Pedestrian injured in transport accident
Transport accidents
Pedal cycle rider injured in transport accident
Accidents
Bus occupant injured in transport accident
Pedestrian injured in transport accident
Pedal cycle rider injured in transport accident
Motorcycle rider injured in transport accident
Motorcycle rider injured in transport accident
Occupant of three-wheeled motor vehicle injured in transport accident
Car occupant injured in transport accident
Occupant of pick-up truck or van injured in transport accident
Other land transport accidents
Other external causes of accidental injury
Occupant of heavy transport vehicle injured in transport accident
Water transport accidents
Other and unspecified transport accidents
Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls
Chapter-Specific Coding Guidelines
General Guidelines for External causes of morbidity:
- Follow standard ICD-10-CM coding principles for external causes of morbidity
- Document the most specific diagnosis supported by the medical record
- Use additional codes for manifestations, complications, or associated conditions
- Ensure proper sequencing based on the reason for the encounter
Documentation Requirements:
- •Specific condition or disease process
- •Acute versus chronic status when applicable
- •Severity or stage when documented
- •Associated symptoms or complications
- •Treatment response and current status
Sequencing Rules:
- Principal diagnosis should reflect the main reason for the encounter
- Sequence complications according to treatment focus
- Use appropriate combination codes when available
- Follow chapter-specific sequencing guidelines
When to Use:
- ✓For conditions classified in the V00-Y99 range
- ✓When the condition is the primary focus of care
- ✓During active treatment or monitoring
- ✓For documented complications of the condition
When NOT to Use:
- ✗For personal history without current manifestations
- ✗During screening encounters without findings
- ✗For conditions better classified elsewhere
- ✗When condition is ruled out or suspected only
Special Considerations:
- ⚠Review chapter-specific coding guidelines
- ⚠Consider combination codes before multiple codes
- ⚠Document functional impact when relevant
- ⚠Use external cause codes when applicable
Version Updates
The 2025 ICD-10-CM updates include refinements to external causes of morbidity coding for improved specificity and clinical relevance.
Recent Updates:
Enhanced External causes of morbidity Specificity
Updated codes within V00-Y99 for improved clinical documentation
Impact: Better alignment with clinical practice and quality reporting
Implementation Guidance:
- •Review all external causes of morbidity coding practices
- •Update documentation templates as needed
- •Train coding staff on any new requirements
- •Implement quality checks for accuracy
Upcoming Changes:
- →Potential enhancements to external causes of morbidity codes in future updates
- →Continued alignment with clinical practice evolution
Related Resources
Key resources for external causes of morbidity coding and clinical documentation.
Official Documentation:
Related Chapters:
Tools and References:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key considerations when coding external causes of morbidity?
Focus on specific diagnosis documentation, proper sequencing, and use of additional codes for complications or manifestations related to external causes of morbidity.
How do I determine the most appropriate code within this chapter?
Review the medical documentation for the most specific diagnosis, check for combination codes, and follow the ICD-10-CM guidelines for this chapter.
When should I use additional codes?
Use additional codes for manifestations, complications, external causes, or other conditions that affect patient care during the encounter.