S15.002A — Unspecified injury of left carotid artery, initial encounter
Is S15.002A billable?
Yes, but S15.002A is an unspecified code. S15.002A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, S15.002A is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting S15.002A — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
S15.002A at a glance
| Code | S15.002A |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified injury of left carotid artery, initial encounter |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| 7th character "A" | initial encounter |
What does the 7th character "A" mean in S15.002A?
In S15.002A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for S15.002A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does S15.002A group to?
S15.002A sits in MDC 15 and helps define the logic of 1 MS-DRG (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 791Prematurity with Major Problemsmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, S15.002A is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is S15.002A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S15.00, the nearest indexed parent of S15.002A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Injury › blood vessel NEC › carotid artery
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S15.0
The conditions below can never be reported together with S15.002A on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- injury of internal carotid artery, intracranial portion (S06.8)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S15.002A to fully describe the condition. S15.002A is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of S15.002A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S15.002A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S10-S19
The conditions below are not part of S15.002A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S15.002A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from S15
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S15.002A is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated open wound (S11.-)
How long has S15.002A existed?
S15.002A has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.