S68.712A (Complete traumatic transmetacarpal amputation of left hand, initial encounter)
compared with
S68.712S (Complete traumatic transmetacarpal amputation of left hand, sequela),
from the official CMS tabular data. S68.712A and S68.712S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment. MedCoder-derived
Complete traumatic transmetacarpal amputation of left hand, sequela
Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.
The 7th character records the phase of care for the encounter being coded, so a single encounter takes one of these characters, not several. Review whether both phases belong on the same episode of care.
Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a
Can these codes be reported together?
Same injury, other encounter phase. S68.712A and S68.712S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment, set by the 7th character.
The 7th character records the type of care given at the encounter being coded (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a), so one encounter takes one of these, not both.