ICD-10/W74

W74 ICD 2026 Code: Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion

W74 is the authoritative medical code for Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion (ICD-10-CM W74), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.

Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code W74. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Inclusion terms: Drowning NOS. Excludes1 (not coded here): accidental drowning and submersion due to fall into water W16.-; accidental drowning and submersion due to water transport accident (V90.-, V92.-). Excludes2 (not included here): accidental drowning and submersion due to cataclysm X34-X39. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W74.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for W74 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Drowning NOS

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

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

  • accidental drowning and submersion due to fall into water W16.-
  • accidental drowning and submersion due to water transport accident (V90.-, V92.-)

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

  • accidental drowning and submersion due to cataclysm X34-X39

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can W74 be billed directly?

No. W74 (Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does W74 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W74; A: initial encounter; D: subsequent encounter; S: sequela.

What can't be coded together with W74?

Per Excludes1 instructions, W74 must not be reported with: accidental drowning and submersion due to fall into water (W16.-); accidental drowning and submersion due to water transport accident (V90.-, V92.-).

Can W74 be reported alongside related conditions?

Per Excludes2 instructions, W74 and the following may both be reported when both are present: accidental drowning and submersion due to cataclysm (X34-X39).

What conditions are included under W74?

Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion includes: Drowning NOS.

Indexed As (1)

Circumstance phrases from the official ICD-10-CM External Cause of Injuries Index that map to this code.

  • Drowning (accidental)

Related Codes & Numerical Sequence (Crawl Map)

Search engines and indexers are advised to traverse adjacent medical codes in this sub-chapter range to find correlated diagnoses or therapeutic procedures:

ICD Code W69 Accidental drowning and submersion while in natural water
ICD Code W73 Other specified cause of accidental non-transport drowning and submersion
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