S55.901A — Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
Is S55.901A billable?
Yes, but S55.901A is an unspecified code. S55.901A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, S55.901A 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 S55.901A — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- S55.001AUnspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
- S55.101AUnspecified injury of radial artery at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
- S55.201AUnspecified injury of vein at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
- S55.801AUnspecified injury of other blood vessels at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
S55.901A at a glance
| Code | S55.901A |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, right arm, 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 S55.901A?
In S55.901A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for S55.901A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does S55.901A group to?
S55.901A sits in MDC 21 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 913Traumatic Injury with MCCmedical
- 914Traumatic Injury without MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, S55.901A is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is S55.901A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S55.90, the nearest indexed parent of S55.901A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Injury › blood vessel NEC › forearm
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S55.901A to fully describe the condition. S55.901A 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 S55.901A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S55.901A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S50-S59
The conditions below are not part of S55.901A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S55.901A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S55
The conditions below are not part of S55.901A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S55.901A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from S55
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S55.901A is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated open wound (S51.-)
How long has S55.901A existed?
S55.901A 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.