ICD-10 Code W54.0XXA: Bitten by dog, initial encounter
External causes of morbidity
ICD-10 code W54.0XXA identifies a dog bite at the initial encounter, used as an external cause code alongside the injury code.
Coding guidance
External cause codes describe how an injury occurred and are always reported secondary to the injury code itself.
The seventh character A indicates initial encounter for active treatment.
The placeholder X characters are required to reach the seventh character position.
Documentation and specificity notes
- Always report secondary to the specific injury code.
- Include the required X placeholders: omitting them causes rejection.
- Select the seventh character based on encounter type.
Related codes
This page provides a general summary for educational purposes and is not a substitute for the official ICD-10-CM code set, the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, or payer policy. Code sets are updated annually, verify against the current official release before billing.
FAQ
ICD-10 W54.0XXA, frequently asked questions questions
- What is ICD-10 code W54.0XXA?
- ICD-10 code W54.0XXA identifies a dog bite at the initial encounter, used as an external cause code alongside the injury code.
- Is W54.0XXA a billable ICD-10 code?
- Yes. W54.0XXA is a billable and specific ICD-10-CM code that may be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes, provided documentation supports it.
- What documentation supports W54.0XXA?
- Always report secondary to the specific injury code. Include the required X placeholders: omitting them causes rejection. Select the seventh character based on encounter type.
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