T71.21 vs W20.0
T71.21 (Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth) compared with W20.0 (Struck by falling object in cave-in), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. W20.0 carries an Excludes2 note covering T71.21: “asphyxiation due to cave-in (T71.21)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| T71.21Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth | W20.0Struck by falling object in cave-in | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) | V00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99) |
| Definition | Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T71.21). | Struck by falling object in cave-in is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (W20.0). |
| 7th character | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71 | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W20 |
| Use additional code | code for any associated cataclysm (X34-X38) | — |
| Code first | — | any associated: cataclysm (X34-X39) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources