2025 ICD-10-CM code W05

Fall from non-moving wheelchair, nonmotorized scooter, or motorized mobility scooter.

Code W05 should be used as a secondary code to the code describing the nature of the injury (e.g. a fracture, contusion, or abrasion). It is used to provide additional information about the cause of the injury.

Modifiers like the 7th character extension for the episode of care (A, D, S) are applied to further refine the code based on whether the encounter is initial, subsequent, or related to sequela.

Medical necessity for W05 is determined by the subsequent injury or condition caused by the fall.Treatment and further diagnostic testing are justified based on the nature and severity of the injuries incurred.

The clinical responsibility for this code lies in documenting the circumstances of the fall and the resulting injuries, if any. Clinicians should ensure the documentation clearly differentiates between a fall from a stationary versus a moving wheelchair or scooter, and that the cause and location of the fall is accurately recorded.

IMPORTANT Excludes1: fall from moving wheelchair (powered) (V00.811), fall from moving motorized mobility scooter (V00.831), fall from nonmotorized scooter (V00.141)Excludes2: at risk for fall (history of fall) Z91.81, fall (in) (from) burning building (X00.-), fall into fire (X00-X04, X08)

In simple words: A fall from a wheelchair, non-motorized scooter, or motorized scooter that wasn't moving at the time of the fall.

Fall from non-moving wheelchair, nonmotorized scooter, or motorized mobility scooter. This code describes the circumstance causing an injury, not the nature of the injury itself.

Example 1: A patient sitting in a non-moving wheelchair leans forward to pick up an object and falls out of the chair, sustaining a wrist fracture., A patient is transferring from a bed to a non-moving motorized mobility scooter and loses their balance, falling onto the floor and suffering a hip contusion., A child sitting on a non-moving non-motorized scooter loses their balance and falls, resulting in a minor abrasion to their knee.

Documentation should clearly state that the wheelchair, scooter or motorized scooter was not moving at the time of the fall. The cause of the fall should be described, such as loss of balance, reaching for an object, or an environmental factor. Details about the resulting injuries or any pre-existing conditions contributing to the fall are essential.

** It's important to specify the type of fall accurately, differentiating this code from falls related to moving wheelchairs or other mobility devices. This ensures proper statistical tracking of incident types.

  • Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Pediatrics
  • Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Nursing Facility, Skilled Nursing Facility, Home Health, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
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