Y21.9 — Unspecified drowning and submersion, undetermined intent
Y21.9 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for unspecified drowning and submersion, undetermined intent. 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 Y21
- A
- initial encounter
- D
- subsequent encounter
- S
- sequela
Risk adjustment
Y21.9 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 Y21.9 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 Y21.9.
- Drowning›stated as undetermined whether accidental or intentional
- Undetermined intent›drowning(submersion) (in)
Code to one of these instead Y21.9
3 child codes. Green means billable.
Related codes at this level
Codes that share Y21. If Y21.9 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.
- Y21.0Drowning and submersion while in bathtub, undetermined intent
- Y21.1Drowning and submersion after fall into bathtub, undetermined intent
- Y21.2Drowning and submersion while in swimming pool, undetermined intent
- Y21.3Drowning and submersion after fall into swimming pool, undetermined intent
- Y21.4Drowning and submersion in natural water, undetermined intent
- Y21.8Other drowning and submersion, undetermined intent
Questions about Y21.9
- Is Y21.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- No. Y21.9 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
- Where does Y21.9 sit in the tabular list?
- External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99), in the block Event of undetermined intent (Y21-Y33).