2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S15.011SMinor laceration of right carotid artery, sequela
S15.011S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for minor laceration of right carotid artery, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 299 through 301. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as laceration of carotid artery. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S15.011S is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Laceration of carotid artery
- Right carotid artery injury
- Right carotid artery laceration
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of blood vessels at neck level (S15). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Wounds and Injuries
An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
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Convert S15.011S to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S15.011SOverview
Is S15.011S (Minor laceration of right carotid artery) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report minor laceration of right carotid artery, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character S in S15.011S mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the minor laceration of right carotid artery itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S15.011S group to?
When minor laceration of right carotid artery, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 299, 300, 301, with relative weights from 0.7197 to 1.6327 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S15.011S exempt from POA reporting?
Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for minor laceration of right carotid artery, sequela on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S15.011S?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, minor laceration of right carotid artery, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 908.3 (late eff inj periph vess). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
