W46.0XXA — Contact with hypodermic needle, initial encounter
Is W46.0XXA billable?
Yes — W46.0XXA is billable for FY2027. W46.0XXA is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. W46.0XXA may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
W46.0XXA at a glance
| Code | W46.0XXA |
|---|---|
| Description | Contact with hypodermic needle, 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 W46.0XXA?
In W46.0XXA, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for W46.0XXA to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
How is W46.0XXA listed in the External Cause Index?
The External Cause of Injuries Index lists these routes under W46.0, the nearest indexed parent of W46.0XXA. This is a separate index from the Alphabetic Index and is where external cause codes are looked up.
- Contact › with › needle › hypodermic (accidental)
- Contact › with › tool › hand › needle › hypodermic (accidental)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to W46.0XXA.
- Hypodermic needle stick NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from W20-W49
The conditions below can never be reported together with W46.0XXA on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
How long has W46.0XXA existed?
W46.0XXA 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.