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ICD-10/T71.20XA

T71.20XA ICD-10-CM Code: Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, initial encounter

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0 (FY2026), Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 922 — OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 923 — OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC (MDC 21)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Code Set: Valid FY2026 and FY2027. FY2026 took effect October 1, 2025.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T71.20A).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T71.20XA in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.

  • acute respiratory distress (syndrome) (J80)
  • anoxia due to high altitude (T70.2)
  • asphyxia NOS (R09.01)
  • asphyxia from carbon monoxide (T58.-)
  • asphyxia from inhalation of food or foreign body (T17.-)
  • asphyxia from other gases, fumes and vapors (T59.-)
  • respiratory distress (syndrome) in newborn (P22.-)

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

  • Code also, if applicable, place of occurrence, such as:
  • highway rest stop (Y92.523)
  • school (private) (public) (state) as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.21-)
  • service areas as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.52-)
  • single-family non-institutional (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.01-)
  • transport vehicle as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.81-)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Does T71.20XA require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to T71.20XA in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • T71.194A — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, undetermined, initial encounter
  • T71.194D — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, undetermined, subsequent encounter
  • T71.194S — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, undetermined, sequela
  • T71.2 — Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air
  • T71.20 — Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause
  • T71.20XD — Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, subsequent encounter
  • T71.20XS — Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, sequela
  • T71.21 — Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth
  • T71.21XA — Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, initial encounter
  • T71.21XD — Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, subsequent encounter

View all codes in the T71 family