X78.9 — Intentional self-harm by unspecified sharp object
X78.9 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for intentional self-harm by unspecified sharp object. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below. This code also requires a 7th character before it is complete.
This code requires a 7th character
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category X78
- A
- initial encounter
- D
- subsequent encounter
- S
- sequela
Risk adjustment
X78.9 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.
How X78.9 is indexed
Coders do not find codes by browsing the tabular list — they look them up in the alphabetic index, under the word the physician wrote. These are the index entries that lead here, so you can see which chart wordings map to X78.9.
- Suicide, suicidal›cut(any part of body)
- Suicide, suicidal›cutting or piercing instrument
- Contact›with›object NEC›sharp NEC›self-inflicted
Code to one of these instead X78.9
3 child codes. Green means billable.
Related codes at this level
Codes that share X78. If X78.9 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.
Questions about X78.9
- Is X78.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- No. X78.9 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
- Where does X78.9 sit in the tabular list?
- External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99), in the block Intentional self-harm (X71-X83).