2025 ICD-10-CM code W01
(Active) Effective Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls 20 Feed
Fall on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling. Includes: fall on moving sidewalk.
Medical necessity is determined by the resulting injuries and subsequent treatment required due to the fall.The documentation must support the medical necessity of any services provided as a result of the fall.
The clinical responsibility for this code lies in accurately documenting the circumstances surrounding the fall to ensure appropriate coding. Clinicians should specify the cause of the fall as slipping, tripping, or stumbling and rule out other external causes such as bumping into objects or falls related to ice and snow.
- 20
- Accidents (V00-X58), Other external causes of accidental injury (W00-X58), Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls (W00-W19)
In simple words: A fall on the same level due to slipping, tripping, or stumbling. This includes falls on moving sidewalks, but excludes falls due to bumping into objects, falls in the shower or bathtub, and falls due to ice or snow.
Fall on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling. Includes a fall on a moving sidewalk.Excludes1: fall due to bumping (striking) against object (W18.0-), fall in shower or bathtub (W18.2-), fall on same level NOS (W18.30), fall on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling due to ice or snow (W00.0), fall off or from toilet (W18.1-), slipping, tripping and stumbling NOS (W18.40), slipping, tripping and stumbling without falling (W18.4-)
Example 1: A patient tripped over a rug in their home and fell on the same level, resulting in a fractured wrist., A patient slipped on a wet floor in a grocery store and fell, sustaining a concussion., A patient stumbled on an uneven sidewalk and fell, resulting in abrasions and contusions.
Documentation should clearly indicate the cause of the fall as slipping, tripping, or stumbling. The location of the fall and the resulting injuries should also be documented. It is important to differentiate this code from other fall codes, such as falls involving ice or snow, falls from heights, or falls due to bumping into objects.
** It is crucial to differentiate W01 from other fall codes to ensure accurate reporting and reimbursement.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Physical Therapy
- Place of Service:Home, Office, Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Nursing Facility, Skilled Nursing Facility, Other Place of Service