Accidental non-transport drowning and submersion (W65-W74)
chapter 20: External Causes of Morbidity
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Instructional notes
Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code
Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable
- accidental drowning and submersion due to cataclysm (X34-X39)
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 how to report external cause codes (V00-Y99) describing cause, intent, place, activity, and status. They are never principal or first-listed, and reporting is voluntary unless required.
- General External Cause Coding Guidelines (page 88)
- Place of Occurrence Guideline (page 89)
- Activity Code (page 89)
- Place of Occurrence, Activity, and Status Codes Used with other External Cause Code (page 89)
- If the Reporting Format Limits the Number of External Cause Codes (page 90)
- Multiple External Cause Coding Guidelines (page 90)
- Child and Adult Abuse Guideline (page 90)
- Unknown or Undetermined Intent Guideline (page 91)
All codes under W65-W74
W65-W74 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
- W65Accidental drowning and submersion while in bath-tub
- W65.XXXAAccidental drowning and submersion while in bath-tub, initial encounter
- W65.XXXDAccidental drowning and submersion while in bath-tub, subsequent encounter
- W65.XXXSAccidental drowning and submersion while in bath-tub, sequela
- W67Accidental drowning and submersion while in swimming-pool
- W67.XXXAAccidental drowning and submersion while in swimming-pool, initial encounter
- W67.XXXDAccidental drowning and submersion while in swimming-pool, subsequent encounter
- W67.XXXSAccidental drowning and submersion while in swimming-pool, sequela
- W69Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water
- W69.XXXAAccidental drowning and submersion while in natural water, initial encounter
- W69.XXXDAccidental drowning and submersion while in natural water, subsequent encounter
- W69.XXXSAccidental drowning and submersion while in natural water, sequela
- W73Other specified cause of accidental non-transport drowning and submersion
- W73.XXXAOther specified cause of accidental non-transport drowning and submersion, initial encounter
- W73.XXXDOther specified cause of accidental non-transport drowning and submersion, subsequent encounter
- W73.XXXSOther specified cause of accidental non-transport drowning and submersion, sequela
- W74Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion
- W74.XXXAUnspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion, initial encounter
- W74.XXXDUnspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion, subsequent encounter
- W74.XXXSUnspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion, sequela
W65-W74 MS-DRGs
This code does not group to an MS-DRG as a principal diagnosis.
Other codes that refer to W65-W74
Notes on these codes point to W65-W74.
- W16 Excludes1: accidental non-watercraft drowning and submersion not involving fall (W65-W74)
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Drowning
People drown when they get too much water in their lungs. You can drown in as little as an inch or two of water. Babies can drown in a sink or bathtub. Preschoolers are most likely to drown in a swimming pool. People who have seizure disorders are also at risk in the water. Drowning can happen quickly and silently.
Read more about drowning on MedlinePlus