W69
Billable codeAccidental drowning and submersion while in natural water
The ICD-10 code for accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water is W69.
Clinical notes
Excludes1 (not coded here)
An Excludes1 note is a pure exclusion: the excluded condition and this code should never be reported together, because the two conditions cannot occur at the same time (e.g. a congenital form vs. an acquired form of the same disease).
Also known as
Alternate wording, synonyms, or specific conditions that fall under this code, listed to help confirm you've picked the right one.
- Accidental drowning and submersion while in lake
- Accidental drowning and submersion while in open sea
- Accidental drowning and submersion while in river
- Accidental drowning and submersion while in stream
7th character definitions
These definitions specify what each valid 7th-character value means for codes in this category.
- [object Object]
7th character note
This category requires a 7th character to indicate additional clinical detail (e.g. encounter type: initial, subsequent, sequela). The code is incomplete without it.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W69
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •Confirm the excluded condition(s) listed above are not also present — Excludes1 conditions cannot be coded together with this one.
- •This category requires a 7th character. Documentation should clearly indicate the episode of care (initial encounter, subsequent encounter, or sequela).
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Related codes in this category
- W65Accidental drowning and submersion while in bath-tub
- W67Accidental drowning and submersion while in swimming-pool
- W73Other specified cause of accidental non-transport drowning and submersion
- W74Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion
- W69Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water