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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
ICD-10 CodesV54.4

V54.4

Billable

Person boarding or alighting a pick-up truck or van injured in collision with heavy transport vehicle or bus

BILLABLE STATUSYes
IMPLEMENTATION DATEOctober 1, 2015
LAST UPDATED09/11/2025

Code Description

ICD-10 V54.4 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of person boarding or alighting a pick-up truck or van injured in collision with heavy transport vehicle or bus.

Key Diagnostic Point:

The ICD-10 code V54.4 is used to classify injuries sustained by individuals who are boarding or alighting from a pick-up truck or van and are subsequently involved in a collision with a heavy transport vehicle or bus. This code is particularly relevant in cases where the individual is struck during the process of entering or exiting the vehicle, highlighting the external cause of the injury. Such incidents often occur in urban settings where heavy traffic is prevalent, and the risk of accidents increases. The injuries can range from minor to severe, depending on the speed of the vehicles involved and the circumstances of the collision. Accurate coding of this scenario is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of transport-related injuries and for implementing public health interventions aimed at reducing such incidents.

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

  • Determining the exact circumstances of the injury (boarding vs. alighting)
  • Differentiating between types of vehicles involved (pick-up truck vs. van)
  • Identifying the severity of injuries sustained
  • Ensuring accurate documentation of the external cause

Audit Risk Factors

  • Inadequate documentation of the incident details
  • Misclassification of the type of vehicle involved
  • Failure to specify whether the individual was boarding or alighting
  • Inconsistent coding practices among different coders

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

Emergency Medicine

Documentation Requirements

Emergency department records should clearly document the mechanism of injury, the type of vehicle involved, and the patient's condition upon arrival.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Patients presenting with trauma after being struck while boarding or alighting from a vehicle.

Billing Considerations

Emergency physicians should ensure that the external cause is documented in detail to support accurate coding.

Trauma Surgery

Documentation Requirements

Trauma documentation must include specifics about the injury mechanism, including the type of transport vehicle and the patient's trajectory during the incident.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Trauma cases involving pedestrians struck by vehicles while entering or exiting a truck or van.

Billing Considerations

Trauma surgeons should be aware of the coding implications of the external cause and ensure that all relevant details are captured.

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use V54.4 When
  • According to ICD
  • 10 coding guidelines, external cause codes should be used in conjunction with the primary diagnosis code
  • It is essential to document the circumstances of the injury clearly and to use the most specific code available

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use V54.4 When
No specific exclusions found.

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

99283CPT Code

Emergency department visit, moderate severity

Clinical Scenario

Used when a patient presents to the emergency department with injuries from a collision.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation must include details of the injury mechanism and treatment provided.

Specialty Considerations

Emergency medicine specialists should ensure that the external cause is documented to support the use of this CPT code.

ICD-10 Impact

Diagnostic & Documentation Impact

Enhanced Specificity

ICD-10 Improvements

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more granular coding of external causes, improving data collection and analysis for public health initiatives aimed at reducing transport-related injuries.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more granular coding of external causes, improving data collection and analysis for public health initiatives aimed at reducing transport-related injuries.

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more granular coding of external causes, improving data collection and analysis for public health initiatives aimed at reducing transport-related injuries.

Resources

Clinical References

  • •
    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Coding & Billing References

  • •
    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be documented to use code V54.4?

Documentation should include the specific circumstances of the injury, including whether the patient was boarding or alighting from the vehicle, the type of vehicle involved, and the details of the collision.