2025 ICD-10-CM code W94

Exposure to high and low air pressure and changes in air pressure.

Always use W94 as a secondary code, following the primary code which describes the resulting condition.The seventh character (A, D, or S) should match the seventh character of the primary diagnosis code, indicating initial encounter, subsequent encounter, or sequela.

Modifiers may apply depending on the context and the primary diagnosis code. Consult current modifier guidelines.

Medical necessity is established by the presence of a documented injury or illness directly attributable to the exposure to high or low air pressure. This needs to be supported by clinical findings, diagnostic testing, and treatment provided.

The clinical responsibility depends on the specific injury or illness resulting from the pressure exposure. It could involve various specialists such as emergency medicine physicians, pulmonologists, or hyperbaric medicine specialists.

IMPORTANT No alternate codes explicitly listed.However, depending on the specific context, other codes from Chapter 19 (Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes) and Chapter 20 (External causes of morbidity) might be applicable in conjunction with W94.

In simple words: This code is used when someone is hurt or gets sick because of changes in air pressure, like being too high up or too deep underwater. It's added to other codes explaining exactly what happened.

This ICD-10-CM code classifies exposure to high and low air pressure, as well as fluctuations in air pressure.It's used to record environmental events causing injury or adverse health effects.This code is always secondary to a code from another chapter specifying the nature of the resulting condition (most often Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes).

Example 1: A deep-sea diver experiences decompression sickness (the bends) after a rapid ascent. W94 would be used as a secondary code alongside the specific ICD-10 code for decompression sickness., A mountain climber develops high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).W94 would be secondary to the HAPE diagnosis code. , A pilot suffers barotrauma during a rapid descent in an unpressurized aircraft. W94 would be secondary to codes describing the barotrauma.

Detailed documentation is essential.The medical record should clearly describe the circumstances of the exposure (e.g., altitude, depth, specific atmospheric pressure changes), the resulting injury or illness, and the treatment provided.Specific details about the nature of the pressure change and the patient's activity during the exposure are crucial.

** This code is crucial for epidemiological purposes, tracking the incidence and impact of pressure-related injuries and illnesses.

  • Payment Status: Active
  • Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.W94 is a diagnosis code, not a procedure code.
  • Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Hyperbaric Medicine, Occupational Medicine
  • Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Other Place of Service
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