T70.20 — Unspecified effects of high altitude
Is T70.20 billable?
No — T70.20 is a non-billable header code. T70.20 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 T70.20.
T70.20 at a glance
| Code | T70.20 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified effects of high altitude |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is T70.20 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to T70.20. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Disease, diseased › altitude
- High › altitude effects
- Sickness › altitude
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T70.20 to fully describe the condition. T70.20 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 T70.20, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T70.20 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T70.2
The conditions below are not part of T70.20, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T70.20 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- polycythemia due to high altitude (D75.1)
Code also — inherited from T66-T78
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether T70.20 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 T70.20? (3)
How long has T70.20 existed?
T70.20 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.