T50.915A — Adverse effect of multiple unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances, initial encounter
Is T50.915A billable?
Yes, but T50.915A is an unspecified code. T50.915A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, T50.915A 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 T50.915A.
T50.915A at a glance
| Code | T50.915A |
|---|---|
| Description | Adverse effect of multiple unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances, 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 T50.915A?
In T50.915A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for T50.915A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
What Medicare edits apply to T50.915A?
The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name T50.915A directly.
CMS will reject this code as the principal diagnosis on an inpatient claim. It describes something other than the condition chiefly responsible for the admission.
Which MS-DRGs does T50.915A group to?
T50.915A 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
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from T36-T50
The conditions below can never be reported together with T50.915A on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- toxic reaction to local anesthesia in pregnancy (O29.3-)
Code first — inherited from T36-T50
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before T50.915A. T50.915A describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T50.915A to fully describe the condition. T50.915A is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Use additional code — inherited from T36-T50
Report an additional code alongside T50.915A to fully describe the condition. T50.915A is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of T50.915A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T50.915A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T36-T50
The conditions below are not part of T50.915A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T50.915A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from T50.91
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether T50.915A is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any specific drugs, medicaments and biological substances
How long has T50.915A existed?
T50.915A first appears in FY2021 (FY2020 is not available, so it may have appeared then).
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.