2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code W16Fall, jump or diving into water

ICD-10-CM Codes›V01–Y99›W00-W19›W16

ICD-10-CM W16
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

W16 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for fall, jump or diving into water, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as W16.011A, W16.011D, W16.011S, and W16.012A.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
W16
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Fall, jump or diving into water
Short Description
Fall, jump or diving into water
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
W00-W19
Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls

Code Classification

ChapterV01–Y99External causes of morbidity and mortality
SectionW00-W19Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls
CategoryW16Fall, jump or diving into water
This CodeW16Fall, jump or diving into water

Specific Coding for Fall, jump or diving into waterOverview

Non-specific codes like W16 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • W16.0 for Fall into swimming pool

  • W16.01 for Fall into swimming pool striking water surface

  • W16.02 for Fall into swimming pool striking bottom

  • W16.03 for Fall into swimming pool striking wall

  • W16.1 for Fall into natural body of water

  • W16.11 for Fall into natural body of water striking water surface

  • W16.12 for Fall into natural body of water striking bottom

  • W16.13 for Fall into natural body of water striking side

  • W16.2 for Fall in (into) filled bathtub or bucket of water

  • W16.21 for Fall in (into) filled bathtub

  • W16.22 for Fall in (into) bucket of water

  • W16.3 for Fall into other water

  • W16.31 for Fall into other water striking water surface

  • W16.32 for Fall into other water striking bottom

  • W16.33 for Fall into other water striking wall

  • W16.4 for Fall into unspecified water

  • W16.41 for Fall into unspecified water causing drowning and submersion

  • W16.42 for Fall into unspecified water causing other injury

  • W16.5 for Jumping or diving into swimming pool

  • W16.51 for Jumping or diving into swimming pool striking water surface

  • W16.52 for Jumping or diving into swimming pool striking bottom

  • W16.53 for Jumping or diving into swimming pool striking wall

  • W16.6 for Jumping or diving into natural body of water

  • W16.61 for Jumping or diving into natural body of water striking water surface

  • W16.62 for Jumping or diving into natural body of water striking bottom

  • W16.7 for Jumping or diving from boat

  • W16.71 for Jumping or diving from boat striking water surface

  • W16.72 for Jumping or diving from boat striking bottom

  • W16.8 for Jumping or diving into other water

  • W16.81 for Jumping or diving into other water striking water surface

  • W16.82 for Jumping or diving into other water striking bottom

  • W16.83 for Jumping or diving into other water striking wall

  • W16.9 for Jumping or diving into unspecified water

  • W16.91 for Jumping or diving into unspecified water causing drowning and submersion

  • W16.92 for Jumping or diving into unspecified water causing other injury

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to W16: its own notes plus those printed at block W00-W19 and Chapter 20. 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.

On W16 itself
  • accidental non-watercraft drowning and submersion not involving fall (W65-W74)
  • effects of air pressure from diving (W94.-)
  • fall into water from watercraft (V90-V94)
  • hitting an object or against bottom when falling from watercraft (V94.0)
From Block W00-W19 Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls applies to 330 codes
  • assault involving a fall (Y01-Y02)
  • fall from animal (V80.-)
  • fall (in) (from) machinery (in operation) (W28-W31)
  • fall (in) (from) transport vehicle (V01-V99)
  • intentional self-harm involving a fall (X80-X81)

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 W16 itself
  • striking or hitting diving board (W21.4)
From Block W00-W19 Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls applies to 330 codes
  • at risk for fall (history of fall) Z91.81
  • fall (in) (from) burning building (X00.-)
  • fall into fire (X00-X04, X08)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 20 (V00-Y99) External causes of morbidity and mortality applies to 7,461 codes
  • This chapter permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used secondary to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter 20 should be used to provide additional information as to the cause of the condition.

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 W16
Values for category W16 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 W16, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming W16: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • V90 Drowning and submersion due to accident to watercraft
    fall into water not from watercraft (W16.-)
  • V92 Drowning and submersion due to accident on board watercraft, without accident to watercraft
    fall into water without watercraft (W16.-)
  • Block W65-W74 Accidental non-transport drowning and submersion
    accidental drowning and submersion due to fall into water (W16.-)

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and W16 is one of the codes named.

  • W21.4 Striking against diving board
    code for subsequent falling into water, if applicable (W16.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Falls

Falls can be dangerous at any age. Babies and young children can get hurt falling off furniture or down the stairs. Older children may fall off playground equipment. For older adults, falls can be especially serious. They are at higher risk of falling.

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 W16Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for fall, jump or diving into water?

W16 is the ICD-10-CM category for fall, jump or diving into water, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is W16 (Fall, jump or diving into water) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for fall, jump or diving into water, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for fall, jump or diving into water need a more specific code from this category, such as W16.011A, W16.011D, and W16.011S.

Can W16 be reported with a code from W94?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on W16 lists "effects of air pressure from diving (W94.-)". 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).