2025 ICD-10-CM code W56
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Exposure to animate mechanical forces (W50-W64) Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99) Feed
Contact with a nonvenomous marine animal.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter and the subsequent treatment provided.Consult official coding guidelines for specific modifier usage.
Medical necessity is established based on the severity and type of injury or adverse health effects from the encounter.Treatment should be reasonable and necessary for managing the symptoms and preventing complications.
The clinical responsibility depends on the nature and severity of the injury sustained from contact with the nonvenomous marine animal.This might involve assessment, wound care, treatment of any resulting infections or allergic reactions, and follow-up care.Specialists like dermatologists or infectious disease specialists may be involved depending on the injury.
- Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99)
- Accidents (V00-X58) > Other external causes of accidental injury (W00-X58) > Exposure to animate mechanical forces (W50-W64)
In simple words: This code is used when someone is hurt by touching or interacting with a non-poisonous sea creature, like a crab or starfish.
This code classifies encounters involving contact with a nonvenomous marine animal, resulting in injury or other adverse health consequences.It's crucial to note that this excludes contact with venomous marine animals, which are coded elsewhere (T63.-).
Example 1: A patient sustains lacerations to their foot after stepping on a sharp shell during a beach walk.W56 would be used as a secondary code alongside the injury codes for the lacerations., A swimmer gets stung by jellyfish, but the jellyfish is nonvenomous.The patient experiences localized irritation and mild inflammation. W56 would be used as a secondary code in this case., A child playing on a beach suffers multiple abrasions and minor cuts after a fall on rocks, encountering small crabs during the fall. W56 would be used as a secondary code along with codes for abrasions and lacerations.
Detailed description of the event leading to the encounter with the nonvenomous marine animal, including the specific type of animal.Documentation of any resulting injuries or adverse effects, along with the treatment provided.
** Accurate coding requires detailed documentation specifying the type of marine animal involved to distinguish it from venomous marine animals.Always consider using additional codes to capture the full clinical picture, including any complications or comorbidities.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Emergency Room - Hospital, Urgent Care Facility