Alphabetic Index FY2027

Y38

Terrorism

FY2027Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity/Y35–Y38 Legal intervention, operations of war, military operations, and terrorism

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

Y38 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for terrorism. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are Y38.0 Terrorism involving explosion of marine weapons; Y38.1 Terrorism involving destruction of aircraft; Y38.2 Terrorism involving other explosions and fragments; Y38.3 Terrorism involving fires, conflagration and hot substances and 6 more. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction.

7th characters

Every code below needs one of these.

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category Y38

  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

Guidelines tips

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

An external cause code is never a principal or first-listed diagnosis. Its 7th character is assigned for each encounter and should match the injury or condition code.

Guidelines I.C.20.a.2; I.C.20.a.6External cause codesRead the official text

Suspected terrorism is classified as assault, not Y38. Y38.9 is for conditions occurring after the event, not the initial act.

Guidelines I.C.20.jTerrorismRead the official text

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

This code
  • code for place of occurrence (Y92.-)

Inclusion terms

Conditions classified to this code.

This code
  • These codes are for use to identify injuries resulting from the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objective

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 20 External causes of morbidity
  • This chapter permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used secondary to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter 20 should be used to provide additional information as to the cause of the condition.

More specific codes under Y38 10