S40.87 ICD-10-CM Code: Other superficial bite of upper arm
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S40.87 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of scapular region
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
- open bite of upper arm (S41.14) Compare S40.87 vs S41.14 →
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- other superficial bite of shoulder (S40.27-) Compare S40.87 vs S40.27 →
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Compare S40.87 vs T20 →
- frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S40.87 vs T33 →
- injuries of elbow (S50-S59) Compare S40.87 vs S50 →
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S40.87 vs T63.4 →
Change history
No changes recorded for this code — unchanged since the FY2016 baseline of the change ledger.
Verify Before Coding
- Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S40.871A, S40.871D, S40.871S, S40.872A, S40.872D.
- Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40" Options: S40.871A, S40.871D, S40.871S, S40.872A, S40.872D, S40.872S
From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.
Contextual Map
Every relationship of S40.87 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.
Hierarchy
- S00-T88 — Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) (S00-T88) [Hierarchy]
Excludes1
- S41.14 — Puncture wound with foreign body of upper arm [Excludes1]: “open bite of upper arm (S41.14)”
Excludes2
- S40.27 — Other superficial bite of shoulder [Excludes2]: “other superficial bite of shoulder (S40.27-)”
Referenced by Excludes1 notes
- S41.15 — Open bite of upper arm [Excludes1]: “superficial bite of upper arm (S40.87)”
Nearest codes (40)
- S40 — Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm [Sibling]
- S40.852A — Superficial foreign body of left upper arm, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S40.852D — Superficial foreign body of left upper arm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S40.852S — Superficial foreign body of left upper arm, sequela [Sibling]
- S40.859 — Superficial foreign body of unspecified upper arm [Sibling]
- S40.859A — Superficial foreign body of unspecified upper arm, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S40.859D — Superficial foreign body of unspecified upper arm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S40.859S — Superficial foreign body of unspecified upper arm, sequela [Sibling]
- and 32 more
Referenced by Other Codes
Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name S40.87 or its code family.
1 Excludes1 notes: S41.15.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S40.87 be billed directly?
No. S40.87 (Other superficial bite of upper arm) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S40.87 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S40.87 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S40.862S — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of left upper arm, sequela
- S40.869 — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of unspecified upper arm
- S40.869A — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of unspecified upper arm, initial encounter
- S40.869D — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of unspecified upper arm, subsequent encounter
- S40.869S — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of unspecified upper arm, sequela
- S40.871 — Other superficial bite of right upper arm
- S40.871A — Other superficial bite of right upper arm, initial encounter
- S40.871D — Other superficial bite of right upper arm, subsequent encounter
- S40.871S — Other superficial bite of right upper arm, sequela
- S40.872 — Other superficial bite of left upper arm