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S40.272A vs S40.279A

S40.272A (Other superficial bite of left shoulder, initial encounter) compared with S40.279A (Other superficial bite of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S40.272A and S40.279A code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S40.272A
Left
Other superficial bite of left shoulder, initial encounter
S40.279A
Unspecified
Other superficial bite of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. S40.272A and S40.279A name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

S40.272AOther superficial bite of left shoulder, initial encounterS40.279AOther superficial bite of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
DefinitionOther superficial bite of left shoulder, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S40.272A).Other superficial bite of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S40.279A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40
Includes
injuries of axilla
injuries of scapular region
injuries of axilla
injuries of scapular region

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources