2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T70.20XSUnspecified effects of high altitude, sequela
T70.20XS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified effects of high altitude, 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 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 922 through 923. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as effects of high altitude. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Effect of other external causes, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
T70.20XS is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Other and unspecified effects of external causes (T66-T78).
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Effects of high altitude
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Effects of air pressure and water pressure (T70). 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 T70.20XS: its own notes plus those printed at T70.2, T70, block T66-T78, and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
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.
- polycythemia due to high altitude (D75.1)
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.-)
Code Also
A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.
- 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.
- 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 T70
- Ainitial encounter
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela this code
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name T70.20XS, its category, or a range that includes it.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Barotrauma
Barotrauma means injury to your body because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure. One common type happens to your ear. A change in altitude may cause your ears to hurt. This can happen if you are flying in an airplane, driving in the mountains, or scuba diving.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert T70.20XS to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About T70.20XSOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela?
The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela is T70.20XS (sometimes written as T7020XS). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is T70.20XS (Unspecified effects of high altitude) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character S in T70.20XS mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the unspecified effects of high altitude itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does T70.20XS group to?
When unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 923, 922, with relative weights from 0.9980 to 1.6248 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is T70.20XS 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 unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Other and unspecified effects of external causes (T66-T78) range of the CMS exempt list.
