Is ICD-10-CM code S06 billable?

No, S06 (Intracranial injury) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code. It must be coded to a more specific subcategory before it can be used for reimbursement.

What chapter does ICD-10-CM code S06 belong to?

S06 belongs to Chapter 19 of the ICD-10-CM tabular list: S00–T88 (Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes).

S06Not billable, use a more specific code below

Intracranial injury

In Injuries to the head (S00-S09), chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes

569 billable codes under S06: 143 are an MCC, 65 are a CC; 173 map to HCC 397 (Major Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness > 1 Hour), HCC 398 (Major Head Injury with Loss of Consciousness < 1 Hour or Unspecified), HCC 399 (Major Head Injury without Loss of Consciousness).A CC or MCC (major CC) is a secondary diagnosis that raises the MS-DRG payment. An HCC counts toward a Medicare Advantage patient's risk score.

Instructional notes

Includes: conditions that are coded here

traumatic brain injury

Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code

head injury NOS (S09.90)

Code also: add a code for this too, order depends on the encounter

any associated:
open wound of head (S01.-)
skull fracture (S02.-)

Use additional code: add a second code for this, listed after this one

code, if applicable, to identify mild neurocognitive disorders due to known physiological condition (F06.7-)

Also applies, from Injuries to the head (S00-S09)

These notes sit on S00-S09 and apply to every code under it, including S06.

Includes: conditions that are coded here

injuries of ear
injuries of eye
injuries of face [any part]
injuries of gum
injuries of jaw
injuries of oral cavity
injuries of palate
injuries of periocular area
injuries of scalp
injuries of temporomandibular joint area
injuries of tongue
injuries of tooth

Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable

burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
effects of foreign body in ear (T16)
effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
effects of foreign body in mouth NOS (T18.0)
effects of foreign body in nose (T17.0-T17.1)
effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
effects of foreign body on external eye (T15.-)
frostbite (T33-T34)
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

Code also: add a code for this too, order depends on the encounter

for any associated infection

Official coding guidelines

From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.

Covers 7th character use and coding of injuries, fractures, burns, drug and toxic effects, abuse and neglect, and complications of care (S00-T88).

Application of 7th Characters in Chapter 19 (page 77)
Coding of Injuries (page 78)
Coding of Traumatic Fractures (page 79)
Coding of Burns and Corrosions (page 80)
Adverse Effects, Poisoning, Underdosing and Toxic Effects (page 82)
Adult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment (page 85)
Complications of care (page 85)

Read Section I.C.19 (page 77)

Codes under S06

S06 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.

S06 MS-DRGs

As the principal diagnosis, the billable codes under S06 group to these 24 MS-DRGs (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.

DRG 963 Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC (216 of 569 codes)
DRG 964 Other Multiple Significant Trauma with CC (216 of 569 codes)
DRG 965 Other Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC (216 of 569 codes)
DRG 082 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with MCC (206 of 569 codes)
DRG 083 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with CC (206 of 569 codes)
DRG 084 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour without CC/MCC (206 of 569 codes)
DRG 949 Aftercare with CC/MCC (177 of 569 codes)
DRG 950 Aftercare without CC/MCC (177 of 569 codes)
DRG 091 Other Disorders of Nervous System with MCC (175 of 569 codes)
DRG 092 Other Disorders of Nervous System with CC (175 of 569 codes)
DRG 093 Other Disorders of Nervous System without CC/MCC (175 of 569 codes)
DRG 023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex CNS Principal Diagnosis with MCC or Antineoplastic Implant or Epilepsy with Neurostimulator (99 of 569 codes)
DRG 024 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex CNS Principal Diagnosis without MCC (99 of 569 codes)
DRG 020 Intracranial Vascular Procedures with Principal Diagnosis Hemorrhage with MCC (66 of 569 codes)
DRG 021 Intracranial Vascular Procedures with Principal Diagnosis Hemorrhage with CC (66 of 569 codes)
DRG 022 Intracranial Vascular Procedures with Principal Diagnosis Hemorrhage without CC/MCC (66 of 569 codes)
DRG 085 Traumatic Stupor and Coma <1 Hour with MCC (59 of 569 codes)
DRG 086 Traumatic Stupor and Coma <1 Hour with CC (59 of 569 codes)
DRG 087 Traumatic Stupor and Coma <1 Hour without CC/MCC (59 of 569 codes)
DRG 088 Concussion with MCC (4 of 569 codes)
DRG 089 Concussion with CC (4 of 569 codes)
DRG 090 Concussion without CC/MCC (4 of 569 codes)
DRG 913 Traumatic Injury with MCC (2 of 569 codes)
DRG 914 Traumatic Injury without MCC (2 of 569 codes)

Other codes that refer to S06

Notes on these codes point to S06.

F02 Code First: traumatic brain injury (S06.-)
F06.7 Code First: traumatic brain injury (S06.-)
F48.2 Code First: sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
G31.84 Excludes1: cognitive impairment due to intracranial or head injury (S06.-)
I60-I69 Excludes1: traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (S06.-)
I69 Excludes1: sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
I69.8 Excludes1: sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
I69.9 Excludes1: sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
P52 Excludes1: intracranial hemorrhage due to other injury (S06.-)
R40.2 Code First: intracranial injury (S06.-)
S01 Code Also: intracranial injury (S06.-)
S02 Code Also: any associated intracranial injury (S06.-)
S04 Code First: any associated intracranial injury (S06.-)
S07 Use Additional Code: intracranial injuries (S06.-)
S09.0 Excludes1: injury of cerebral blood vessels (S06.-)

About the condition

Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain. It may happen when there is a blow, bump, or jolt to the head. This is a closed head injury. A TBI can also happen when an object penetrates the skull. This is a penetrating injury.

Code history

Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.