Is W69.XXXA a billable ICD-10-CM code?

Yes. W69.XXXA is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.

Where does W69.XXXA sit in the tabular list?

External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99), in the block Accidental non-transport drowning and submersion (W65-W74).

What cannot be coded together with W69.XXXA?

W69.XXXA carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above W69.XXXA (W69) and apply to it just the same.

W69.XXXA

W69.XXXA — Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water, initial encounter

Billable / specific codeICD-10-CMPOA exempt

W69.XXXA is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water, initial encounter. It is valid for submission on a claim.

7th character "A" — initial encounter

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W69

A: initial encounter
D: subsequent encounter
S: sequela

Excludes1 — never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

accidental drowning and submersion due to fall into natural body of water (W16.111, W16.121, W16.131)

Inclusion terms

Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.

Accidental drowning and submersion while in lake
Accidental drowning and submersion while in open sea
Accidental drowning and submersion while in river
Accidental drowning and submersion while in stream

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above W69.XXXA

These are not written on W69.XXXA, but they bind it: a note on a category applies to every code beneath it. Billing W69.XXXA with anything listed here is a denial.

Written on W69 — Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water

accidental drowning and submersion due to fall into natural body of water (W16.111, W16.121, W16.131)

Risk adjustment

W69.XXXA 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.

Code history

W69.XXXA has not changed since FY2024 — no addition, revision or deletion across the three most recent ICD-10-CM releases.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share W69. If W69.XXXA is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about W69.XXXA

Is W69.XXXA a billable ICD-10-CM code?: Yes. W69.XXXA is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
Where does W69.XXXA sit in the tabular list?: External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99), in the block Accidental non-transport drowning and submersion (W65-W74).
What cannot be coded together with W69.XXXA?: W69.XXXA carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above W69.XXXA (W69) and apply to it just the same.