2025 ICD-10-CM code Y38
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Legal intervention, operations of war, military operations, and terrorism (Y35-Y38) External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99) Feed
Terrorism: Codes used to identify injuries from unlawful force or violence to intimidate or coerce a government or population for political or social objectives.Additional codes specify the place of occurrence.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the care provided, such as the place of service or the type of care given (e.g.-25 for significant and separately identifiable E/M service). Consult official coding guidelines for specifics.
Medical necessity for treatment is determined by the injuries sustained.Documentation must support the medical necessity of all services rendered in relation to the injuries resulting from the terrorist act.
The clinical responsibility will vary depending on the type of injury sustained and the specialty of the physician providing care.
- External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99)
- External causes of morbidity > Legal intervention, operations of war, military operations, and terrorism
In simple words: This code is used for injuries caused by terrorism.Terrorism is when someone uses violence or threats to scare a government or people to get what they want. This code is only used for injuries that happen *after* the terrorist event, not during.
This ICD-10-CM code (Y38) classifies injuries resulting from the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property.The intent is to intimidate or coerce a government, civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.This code should be used in conjunction with additional codes to specify the nature of the injury (from Chapters 1-18) and the place of occurrence (using codes from the Y92.- range).The seventh character (A, D, or S) should be appended to indicate the encounter (initial, subsequent, or sequela).Note that Y38 does not encompass conditions due to the initial terrorist act; it’s for subsequent occurrences.
Example 1: A civilian injured during a bombing, requiring surgery for shrapnel wounds (the code Y38 would be used along with codes for the specific injuries and the place of occurrence)., A first responder suffering from PTSD following a terrorist attack (Y38 would be used with a mental health code and possibly a code for the place of occurrence)., A hospital patient with a pre-existing condition that worsens due to the disruption caused by a terrorist attack (Y38 would be used with codes for the pre-existing condition and the worsening condition and the place of occurrence).
Comprehensive documentation is needed.This includes details of the terrorist event (date, time, location, type of attack), the patient’s injuries (type, severity, treatment), and any pre-existing conditions. Mental health evaluations should be thoroughly documented for patients suffering psychological trauma.
** This code is intended to capture the consequences of terrorist attacks beyond the immediate event.It should not be used to code the direct effects of the attack itself, but rather for subsequent complications or conditions.Always ensure proper documentation to support the use of this code and any associated codes.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Internal Medicine
- Place of Service:Hospital Inpatient, Hospital Outpatient, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Other Place of Service