2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T71.232SAsphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, sequela

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T66-T78›T71

ICD-10-CM T71.232S
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

T71.232S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, 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. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Effect of other external causes, sequela; and Mental and substance use disorders; sequela.

T71.232S no longer risk-adjusts for Medicare Advantage: it mapped to HCC 59 under the retired CMS-HCC V24 model through payment year 2025 but maps to no category in the live V28 model. It still risk-adjusts in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22) category 58, ESRD (V21) category 58, and ESRD (V24) category 59 for payment year 2027.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T71.232S
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, sequela
Short Description
Asphyx d/t being trap in a (discarded) refrig, slf-hrm, sqla
Parent Code
T71.232
Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT66-T78Other and unspecified effects of external causes
CategoryT71Asphyxiation
This CodeT71.232SAsphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, sequela

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

T71.232S 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).

Medicare Risk Adjustment (HCC)Billing

T71.232S no longer risk-adjusts for Medicare Advantage: it maps to no payment category in the live CMS-HCC V28 model, although it still risk-adjusts in the other CMS models shown below.

CMS-HCC V28 (Medicare Advantage Payment Model)
Not mapped
Dropped in V28 see all codes that no longer risk-adjust
Prior Model (CMS-HCC V24)
HCC 59
V24 retired last contributed to a Medicare Advantage risk score in payment year 2025
Other CMS Models
PACE (CMS-HCC V22): HCC 58 · ESRD (V21): HCC 58 · ESRD (V24): HCC 59
ESRD V21 weights: 0.091 dialysis, 0.217–0.260 functioning graft · ESRD V24 weights: 0.066 dialysis, 0.129–0.259 functioning graft
Part D (RxHCC)
Not mapped
T71.232S does not risk-adjust in the RxHCC prescription drug model

Source: CMS Payment Year 2027 risk adjustment mappings and model software. Weights are relative factors, not dollar amounts; a beneficiary's total RAF also includes demographics and interactions. Browse all CMS-HCC categories.

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Asphyxiation (T71). 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 T71.232S: its own notes plus those printed at T71, block T66-T78, and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

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

From T71 Asphyxiation applies to 117 codes
  • acute respiratory distress (syndrome) (J80)
  • anoxia due to high altitude (T70.2)
  • asphyxia NOS (R09.01)
  • asphyxia from carbon monoxide (T58.-)
  • asphyxia from inhalation of food or foreign body (T17.-)
  • asphyxia from other gases, fumes and vapors (T59.-)
  • respiratory distress (syndrome) in newborn (P22.-)

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.

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.

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.

From T71 Asphyxiation applies to 117 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71
Values for category T71 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • 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 T71.232S, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming T71.232S: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • R09.0 Asphyxia and hypoxemia
    traumatic asphyxia (T71.-) names T71.-, which includes this code

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index; each main term links to its index entry.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ074
Effect of other external causes, sequela
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR MBD034
Mental and substance use disorders; sequela
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Suffocation

    the stopping of respiration or the asphyxia that results from it.

Convert T71.232S to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
909.4 Late eff cert ext cause
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 T71.232SOverview

Is T71.232S a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character S in T71.232S mean?

The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm itself has resolved, not the original event.

What MS-DRG does T71.232S group to?

When asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, 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 T71.232S 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 asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Other and unspecified effects of external causes (T66-T78) range of the CMS exempt list.

Can T71.232S be reported with J80?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at T71, which applies to T71.232S, lists "acute respiratory distress (syndrome) (J80)". 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 T71.232S risk-adjust for Medicare Advantage payment?

Not for Medicare Advantage. T71.232S mapped to HCC 59 in the retired CMS-HCC V24 model, which last determined payment in 2025, but it maps to no category in the live V28 model; see all codes that no longer risk-adjust. It still risk-adjusts in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22) category 58 (Major Depressive/Bipolar/and Paranoid Disorders), ESRD (V21) category 58 (Major Depressive/Bipolar/and Paranoid Disorders), and ESRD (V24) category 59 (Major Depressive/Bipolar/and Paranoid Disorders).