2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T38.1X6AUnderdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter
T38.1X6A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 951. The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Underdosing of drugs and medicaments, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for T38.1X6A.
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
Underdosing refers to taking less of a medication than is prescribed by a provider or a manufacturer's instruction. Codes for underdosing should never be assigned as principal or first-listed codes. If a patient has a relapse or exacerbation of the medical condition for which the drug is prescribed because of the reduction in dose, then the medical condition itself should be coded.
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of hormones and their synthetic substitutes and antagonists, not elsewhere classified (T38). 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 2027, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to T38.1X6A: its own notes plus those printed at T38, block T36-T50, and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Includes
Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.
- adverse effect of correct substance properly administered
- poisoning by overdose of substance
- poisoning by wrong substance given or taken in error
- underdosing by (inadvertently) (deliberately) taking less substance than prescribed or instructed
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- toxic reaction to local anesthesia in pregnancy (O29.3-)
Excludes2
Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.
Code First
The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.
Use Additional Code
Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
7th Character
Every code in the category takes a 7th character from the listed values, with the placeholder X filling any empty positions before it.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T38
- Ainitial encounter this code
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Thyroxine
the major hormone derived from the thyroid gland. thyroxine is synthesized via the iodination of tyrosines (monoiodotyrosine) and the coupling of iodotyrosines (diiodotyrosine) in the thyroglobulin. thyroxine is released from thyroglobulin by proteolysis and secreted into the blood. thyroxine is peripherally deiodinated to form triiodothyronine which exerts a broad spectrum of stimulatory effects on cell metabolism.Triiodothyronine
a t3 thyroid hormone normally synthesized and secreted by the thyroid gland in much smaller quantities than thyroxine (t4). most t3 is derived from peripheral monodeiodination of t4 at the 5' position of the outer ring of the iodothyronine nucleus. the hormone finally delivered and used by the tissues is mainly t3.
Table of Drugs and ChemicalsClinical
Substances in the Table of Drugs and Chemicals that reference this code family. Always confirm in the Tabular List before coding.
Patient EducationClinical
Hormones
Hormones are your body's chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs. They work slowly, over time, and affect many different processes, including:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert T38.1X6A to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About T38.1X6AOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter?
The ICD-10-CM code for underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter is T38.1X6A (sometimes written as T381X6A). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is T38.1X6A (Underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character A in T38.1X6A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does T38.1X6A group to?
On inpatient claims, underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter maps to MS-DRG 951 (other Factors Influencing Health Status), which carries a relative weight of 0.5574. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can T38.1X6A be a principal diagnosis?
No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because underdosing of thyroid hormones and substitutes, initial encounter describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.
