2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code W56Contact with nonvenomous marine animal

ICD-10-CM Codes›V01–Y99›W50-W64›W56

ICD-10-CM W56
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

W56 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for contact with nonvenomous marine animal, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as W56.01XA, W56.01XD, W56.01XS, and W56.02XA.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
W56
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Contact with nonvenomous marine animal
Short Description
Contact with nonvenomous marine animal
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
W50-W64
Exposure to animate mechanical forces

Code Classification

ChapterV01–Y99External causes of morbidity and mortality
SectionW50-W64Exposure to animate mechanical forces
CategoryW56Contact with nonvenomous marine animal
This CodeW56Contact with nonvenomous marine animal

Specific Coding for Contact with nonvenomous marine animalOverview

Non-specific codes like W56 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • W56.0 for Contact with dolphin

  • W56.01 for Bitten by dolphin

  • W56.02 for Struck by dolphin

  • W56.09 for Other contact with dolphin

  • W56.1 for Contact with sea lion

  • W56.11 for Bitten by sea lion

  • W56.12 for Struck by sea lion

  • W56.19 for Other contact with sea lion

  • W56.2 for Contact with orca

  • W56.21 for Bitten by orca

  • W56.22 for Struck by orca

  • W56.29 for Other contact with orca

  • W56.3 for Contact with other marine mammals

  • W56.31 for Bitten by other marine mammals

  • W56.32 for Struck by other marine mammals

  • W56.39 for Other contact with other marine mammals

  • W56.4 for Contact with shark

  • W56.41 for Bitten by shark

  • W56.42 for Struck by shark

  • W56.49 for Other contact with shark

  • W56.5 for Contact with other fish

  • W56.51 for Bitten by other fish

  • W56.52 for Struck by other fish

  • W56.59 for Other contact with other fish

  • W56.8 for Contact with other nonvenomous marine animals

  • W56.81 for Bitten by other nonvenomous marine animals

  • W56.82 for Struck by other nonvenomous marine animals

  • W56.89 for Other contact with other nonvenomous marine animals

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to W56: its own notes plus those printed at block W50-W64 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 W56 itself
  • contact with venomous marine animal (T63.-)
From Block W50-W64 Exposure to animate mechanical forces applies to 336 codes
  • Toxic effect of contact with venomous animals and plants (T63.-)

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 W56
Values for category W56 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 W56, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming W56: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • W55 Contact with other mammals
    contact with marine mammals (W56.-)

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 W56Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for contact with nonvenomous marine animal?

W56 is the ICD-10-CM category for contact with nonvenomous marine animal, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is W56 (Contact with nonvenomous marine animal) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for contact with nonvenomous marine animal, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for contact with nonvenomous marine animal need a more specific code from this category, such as W56.01XA, W56.01XD, and W56.01XS.

Can W56 be reported with a code from T63?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on W56 lists "contact with venomous marine animal (T63.-)". 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).