T68 — Hypothermia
Is T68 billable?
No — T68 is a non-billable header code. T68 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 T68.
Billable codes under this header
T68 at a glance
| Code | T68 |
|---|---|
| Description | Hypothermia |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is T68 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to T68. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Hypothermia (accidental)
- Hypothermia › low environmental temperature (accidental)
- Subnormal, subnormality › temperature
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with T68 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code
Report an additional code alongside T68 to fully describe the condition. T68 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of T68, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T68 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- frostbite (T33-T34)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to T68.
- Accidental hypothermia
- Hypothermia NOS
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T68 to fully describe the condition. T68 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 T68, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T68 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from T66-T78
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether T68 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- , if applicable, place of occurrence, such as:
- highway rest stop (Y92.523)
- school (private) (public) (state) as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.21-)
- service areas as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.52-)
- single-family non-institutional (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.01-)
- transport vehicle as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.81-)
What codes fall under T68? (3)
How long has T68 existed?
T68 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.
Which codes are confused with T68?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with T68 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.