2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T68Hypothermia

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T66-T78›T68

ICD-10-CM T68
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

T68 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for hypothermia, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as T68.XXXA, T68.XXXD, and T68.XXXS.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T68
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Hypothermia
Short Description
Hypothermia
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
T66-T78
Other and unspecified effects of external causes

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT66-T78Other and unspecified effects of external causes
CategoryT68Hypothermia
This CodeT68Hypothermia

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Hypothermia (T68). 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 T68: its own notes plus those printed at block T66-T78 and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Accidental hypothermia
  • Hypothermia NOS

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • hypothermia following anesthesia (T88.51)
  • hypothermia not associated with low environmental temperature (R68.0)
  • hypothermia of newborn (P80.-)

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.

On T68 itself
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

On T68 itself
  • code to identify source of exposure:
  • Exposure to excessive cold of man-made origin (W93)
  • Exposure to excessive cold of natural origin (X31)
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

From Block T66-T78 Other and unspecified effects of external causes applies to 456 codes
  • if applicable, place of occurrence, such as:
  • highway rest stop (Y92.523)
  • school (private) (public) (state) as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.21-)
  • service areas as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.52-)
  • single-family non-institutional (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.01-)
  • transport vehicle as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.81-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • 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 code T68
Values for category T68 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name T68, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming T68: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • R68.0 Hypothermia, not associated with low environmental temperature
    hypothermia NOS (accidental) (T68)
  • R68.0 Hypothermia, not associated with low environmental temperature
    hypothermia due to low environmental temperature (T68)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming T68: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Block T33-T34 Frostbite
    hypothermia and other effects of reduced temperature (T68, T69.-)

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hypothermia

    lower than normal body temperature, especially in warm-blooded animals.

Patient EducationClinical

Hypothermia

Cold weather can affect your body in different ways. You can get frostbite, which is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Your body can also lose heat faster than you can produce it. That can cause hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. It can make you sleepy, confused, and clumsy.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About T68Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for hypothermia?

T68 is the ICD-10-CM category for hypothermia, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is T68 (Hypothermia) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for hypothermia, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for hypothermia need a more specific code from this category, such as T68.XXXA, T68.XXXD, and T68.XXXS.

Can T68 be reported with T88.51?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on T68 lists "hypothermia following anesthesia (T88.51)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Does T68 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify source of exposure: Exposure to excessive cold of man-made origin (W93); Exposure to excessive cold of natural origin (X31). The additional code is reported after T68.