T71.9XXA — Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause, initial encounter
T71.9XXA is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for asphyxiation due to unspecified cause, initial encounter. It is valid for submission on a claim.
7th character "A" — initial encounter
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71
- A
- initial encounter
- D
- subsequent encounter
- S
- sequela
Inclusion terms
Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.
- Suffocation (by strangulation) due to unspecified cause
- Suffocation NOS
- Systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause
- Systemic oxygen deficiency due to mechanical threat to breathing due to unspecified cause
- Traumatic asphyxia NOS
Risk adjustment
T71.9XXA does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.
Medicare coverage
T71.9XXA is named in 2 Medicare coverage policies — 2 listing it as supporting medical necessity. Which of them applies to you depends on your Medicare contractor, and coverage genuinely differs by state.
- A56612Billing and Coding: CT of the Head
- A57205Billing and Coding: Oximetry Services
Related codes at this level
Codes that share T71.9. If T71.9XXA is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.
Questions about T71.9XXA
- Is T71.9XXA a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- Yes. T71.9XXA is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
- Where does T71.9XXA sit in the tabular list?
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Other and unspecified effects of external causes (T66-T78).