W69 vs X34
W69 (Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water) compared with X34 (Earthquake), 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. W69 carries an Excludes2 note covering X34: “accidental drowning and submersion due to cataclysm (X34-X39)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| W69Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water | X34Earthquake | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | V00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99) | V00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99) |
| Definition | Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (W69). | Earthquake is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (X34). |
| 7th character | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W69 | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code X34 |
| Includes | Accidental drowning and submersion while in lake Accidental drowning and submersion while in open sea Accidental drowning and submersion while in river Accidental drowning and submersion while in stream | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources