Guidelines › External cause status (Y99)

External cause status (Y99)

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

Guidelines I.C.20.k

“An external cause status code is used only once, at the initial encounter for treatment. Only one code from Y99 should be recorded on a medical record.”

“The external cause status codes are not applicable to poisonings, adverse effects, misadventures or late effects.”

“Do not assign code Y99.9, Unspecified external cause status, if the status is not stated.”

Where this applies

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

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