2025 ICD-10-CM code X31
(Active) Effective Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Exposure to forces of nature 20 Feed
Exposure to excessive natural cold.
The 7th character acts as a modifier for this code.It is required and specifies the encounter type (A - initial encounter, D - subsequent encounter, S - sequela).
The medical necessity of using X31 is tied to the medical necessity of the primary diagnosis. The code helps provide valuable data for injury research and prevention. Insurance companies may require this code to understand the circumstances of the injury or condition.
Clinicians should use this code as a secondary code to document the external cause of the patient's condition. It is essential to accurately document the circumstances of the exposure to help with injury research and prevention strategies. The 7th character should be used to specify whether the encounter is initial, subsequent, or sequela.
- 20
- Accidents (V00-X58), Other external causes of accidental injury (W00-X58), Exposure to forces of nature (X30-X39)
In simple words: This code describes health problems caused by being exposed to very cold weather or natural conditions.
Exposure to excessive natural cold as the cause of various conditions, including chilblains NOS, immersion foot or hand, and general exposure to cold.Excludes cold of man-made origin (W93.-), contact with or inhalation of dry ice (W93.-), and contact with or inhalation of liquefied gas (W93.-).
Example 1: A patient presents with chilblains on their toes after hiking in freezing temperatures. The primary diagnosis would be the chilblains code, and X31 would be used as a secondary code to indicate the cause of the condition., A homeless individual is brought to the emergency room with immersion foot after sleeping outside in freezing weather. X31 would be a secondary code after the code for immersion foot, capturing the environmental cause., A mountain climber develops hypothermia after being caught in a blizzard. While the primary code would be for hypothermia, X31 is used to specify the natural cold exposure as the external cause.
Documentation should clearly state the circumstances of the exposure to natural cold, including the duration and intensity of the exposure, as well as the resulting health condition. It should also be noted whether this is the initial encounter, a subsequent encounter, or a sequela related to a previous cold exposure.
** As of 2024-11-30, there is no national requirement for mandatory reporting of external cause codes like X31.However, some states or payers may require them. Voluntary reporting is encouraged.For accurate and detailed coding information always refer to current ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer-specific rules.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Podiatry
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Homeless Shelter, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital