S20.479 — Other superficial bite of unspecified back wall of thorax
Is S20.479 billable?
No — S20.479 is a non-billable header code. S20.479 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 3 billable codes beneath S20.479.
S20.479 at a glance
| Code | S20.479 |
|---|---|
| Description | Other superficial bite of unspecified back wall of thorax |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is S20.479 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S20.47, the nearest indexed parent of S20.479. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Bite › thorax, thoracic › superficial NEC › back (s) (animal) (human)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S20.47
The conditions below can never be reported together with S20.479 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- open bite of back wall of thorax (S21.24)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S20.479 to fully describe the condition. S20.479 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 S20.479, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.479 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S20-S29
The conditions below are not part of S20.479, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.479 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
- effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
- effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
- effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
What codes fall under S20.479? (3)
How long has S20.479 existed?
S20.479 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.