ICD-10-CM Code T68
Hypothermia
Non-Billable Code
Non-Billable means the code is not sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital when used a principal diagnosis. Use a child code to capture more detail.7th Character Required
Code requires 7th Character Extension identifier. This 7th Character usually captures Episode of Care information, such as "Initial Encounter," "Subsquent Encounter," or "Sequela."ICD Code T68 is a non-billable code. To code a diagnosis of this type, you must use specify a 7th character that describes the diagnosis 'hypothermia' in more detail. The 7th characters that can be added, and the resulting billable codes, are as follows:
| 7th Digit | Billable Code | 7th Digit Specifies |
|---|---|---|
| A | T68.XXXA | initial encounter |
| D | T68.XXXD | subsequent encounter |
| S | T68.XXXS | sequela |
What is 7th Character Extension?
For codes less than 6 characters that require a 7th character a placeholder 'X' should be assigned for all characters less than 6. The 7th character must always be the 7th position of a code. E.g. The ICD-10-CM code T67.4 (Heat exhaustion due to salt depletion) requires an Episode of Care identifier. T67.4XXA Initial Encounter or T67.4XXD Subsequent Encounter. More InfoThe ICD code T68 is used to code Hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below 35.0 °C (95.0 °F). Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe hypothermia there may be paradoxical undressing, where a person removes their clothing, as well as an increased risk of the heart stopping.
| Specialty: | Critical Care Medicine |
| MeSH Code: | D007035 |
| ICD 9 Code: | 991.6 |
During Napoleon Bonaparte's retreat from Russia in the winter of 1812, many troops died from hypothermia.
Coding Notes for T68 Info for medical coders on how to properly use this ICD-10 code
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Inclusion Terms:
Inclusion Terms
Inclusion Terms are a list of concepts for which a specific code is used. The list of Inclusion Terms is useful for determining the correct code in some cases, but the list is not necessarily exhaustive. - Accidental hypothermia
- Hypothermia NOS
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Additional Code Note:
Use Additional Code
Use Additional Code note means a second code must be used in conjunction with this code. Codes with this note are Etiology codes and must be followed by a Manifestation code or codes. - Code to identify source of exposure:
- Exposure to excessive cold of man-made origin See Code W93
- Exposure to excessive cold of natural origin See Code X31
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Code Type-1 Excludes:
Type-1 Excludes
Type-1 Excludes mean the conditions excluded are mutually exclusive and should never be coded together. Excludes 1 means "do not code here." - Hypothermia following anesthesia - instead, use code T88.51
- Hypothermia not associated with low environmental temperature - instead, use code R68.0
- Hypothermia of newborn - instead, use code P80.-
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Code Type-2 Excludes:
Type-2 Excludes
Type-2 Excludes means the excluded conditions are different, although they may appear similar. A patient may have both conditions, but one does not include the other. Excludes 2 means "not coded here." - Frostbite - instead, use Section T33-T34
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7th Character Extension Notes:
What is 7th Character Extension?
For codes less than 6 characters that require a 7th character a placeholder 'X' should be assigned for all characters less than 6. The 7th character must always be the 7th position of a code. E.g. The ICD-10-CM code T67.4 (Heat exhaustion due to salt depletion) requires an Episode of Care identifier. T67.4XXA Initial Encounter or T67.4XXD Subsequent Encounter. More Info - The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code See Code T68
ICD-10-CM Alphabetical Index References for 'T68 - Hypothermia'
The ICD-10-CM Alphabetical Index links the below-listed medical terms to the ICD code T68. Click on any term below to browse the alphabetical index.