2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T56.1X1AToxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
T56.1X1A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for toxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), 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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 917 through 918. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under External cause codes: intent of injury, accidental/unintentional; External cause codes: poisoning by non-drug; and Toxic effects, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Accidental exposure to inorganic mercury compound
- Accidental exposure to metallic mercury
- Accidental exposure to organic mercury compound
- Accidental poisoning by mercury and/or mercury compound and/or mercury vapor
- Accidental poisoning by mercury compounds
- Accidental poisoning by mercury vapor
- Accidental poisoning by organic mercurials
- Acrodynia due to mercury poisoning
- Acute mercury nephropathy
- Allergic contact gingivitis caused by mercury
- Allergic gingival disease
- Allergic gingivitis
- Chronic mercury nephropathy
- Chronic toxic interstitial nephritis
- Chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis caused by heavy metal
- Heavy-metal-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis
- Hypersensitivity gingivitis
- Infantile mercury poisoning
- Inorganic mercury poisoning
- Mercurial tremor
- Mercurialentis
- Minamata disease
- Organic mercury poisoning
- Toxic effect of mercury and/or mercury compound
- Toxic encephalopathy caused by monomethyl mercury
- Toxic polyneuropathy
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Toxic effect of metals (T56). 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.
Clinical InformationClinical
Toxic Polyneuropathy
polyneuropathy that is caused by exposure to toxins.Chronic Toxic Polyneuropathy
neuropathy affecting multiple nerves that is caused by prolonged exposure to toxic substances.
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.
| Substance | Accidental | Self-harm | Assault | Undetermined | Adverse Effect | Underdosing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulminate of mercury | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::ammoniated | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::anti-infective | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::anti-infective::local | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::anti-infective::systemic | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::anti-infective::topical | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::chloride (ammoniated) | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::chloride (ammoniated)::fungicide | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::diuretic NEC | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::fungicide | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::organic (fungicide) | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
| Mercury, mercurial, mercuric, mercurous (compounds) (cyanide) (fumes) (nonmedicinal) (vapor) NEC::oxide, yellow | T56.1X1 | T56.1X2 | T56.1X3 | T56.1X4 | – | – |
Patient EducationClinical
Mercury
Mercury is an element that is found in air, water and soil. It has several forms. Metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white, odorless liquid. If heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas. It also combines with other elements to form powders or crystals. Mercury is in many products.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert T56.1X1A to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About T56.1X1AOverview
Is T56.1X1A a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report toxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in T56.1X1A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for toxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does T56.1X1A group to?
When toxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 917, 918, with relative weights from 0.8571 to 1.5684 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of T56.1X1A?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, toxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 985.0 (toxic effect mercury) and E866.1 (acc poisoning-mercury). 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.
