Guidelines › Sequela (late effects)

Sequela (late effects)

Official text from the FY2027 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. The wording is quoted exactly.

Guidelines I.B.10

“There is no time limit on when a sequela code can be used.”

“the condition or nature of the sequela is sequenced first. The sequela code is sequenced second.”

“The code for the acute phase of an illness or injury that led to the sequela is never used with a code for the late effect.”

Where this applies

This is a general rule. It applies to code assignment everywhere, not to one code or group of codes.

Source: FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, effective October 1, 2026. Full Guidelines (PDF, CMS)