ICDcodes.org
FY2027

W16.131 — Fall into natural body of water striking side causing drowning and submersion

Not billable

Is W16.131 billable?

No — W16.131 is a non-billable header code. W16.131 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 W16.131.

W16.131 at a glance

CodeW16.131
DescriptionFall into natural body of water striking side causing drowning and submersion
BillableNo — header code
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

How is W16.131 listed in the External Cause Index?

These are the routes through the External Cause of Injuries Index that lead to W16.131 — how the injury happened, rather than what the injury was.

  • Striking against › wall › falling into water › natural body › causing drowning
  • Drowning › in › natural water › following › fall › striking › side (accidental)
  • Drowning › following › fall › into › water NOS › natural › striking › side (accidental)
  • Fall, falling › into › water › in › natural body of water › striking › side › causing drowning (accidental)

Excludes1 — never code together

The conditions below can never be reported together with W16.131 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • drowning and submersion while in natural body of water without fall (W69)

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from W00-W19

The conditions below can never be reported together with W16.131 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • assault involving a fall (Y01-Y02)
  • fall from animal (V80.-)
  • fall (in) (from) machinery (in operation) (W28-W31)
  • fall (in) (from) transport vehicle (V01-V99)
  • intentional self-harm involving a fall (X80-X81)

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from W16

The conditions below can never be reported together with W16.131 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • accidental non-watercraft drowning and submersion not involving fall (W65-W74)
  • effects of air pressure from diving (W94.-)
  • fall into water from watercraft (V90-V94)
  • hitting an object or against bottom when falling from watercraft (V94.0)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from W00-W19

The conditions below are not part of W16.131, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, W16.131 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • at risk for fall (history of fall) Z91.81
  • fall (in) (from) burning building (X00.-)
  • fall into fire (X00-X04, X08)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from W16

The conditions below are not part of W16.131, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, W16.131 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • striking or hitting diving board (W21.4)

What codes fall under W16.131? (3)

How long has W16.131 existed?

W16.131 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.

What other codes are in the W16.13 family? (1)