Avalanche, landslide and other earth movements (X36) ICD-10-CM
The X36 code range covers avalanche, landslide and other earth movements with 9 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 6 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- victim of mudslide of cataclysmic nature
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- earthquake X34
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category X36
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Codes in the X36 Range 9 codes · 6 billable
- X36 Avalanche, landslide and other earth movementsNon-billable
- X36.0 Collapse of dam or man-made structure causing earth movementNon-billable
- X36.0XXA Collapse of dam or man-made structure causing earth movement, initial encounter
- X36.0XXD Collapse of dam or man-made structure causing earth movement, subsequent encounter
- X36.0XXS Collapse of dam or man-made structure causing earth movement, sequela
- X36.1 Avalanche, landslide, or mudslideNon-billable
- X36.1XXA Avalanche, landslide, or mudslide, initial encounter
- X36.1XXD Avalanche, landslide, or mudslide, subsequent encounter
- X36.1XXS Avalanche, landslide, or mudslide, sequela
About the X36 Code Range
The ICD-10 code X36 series covers injuries resulting from avalanches, landslides, mudslides, and other earth movements, including dam or man-made structure collapses that cause such events. These codes capture different stages of medical care, from initial encounters to sequelae of these natural disasters.
The codes under X36 help specify the exact type of earth movement causing injury. For example, X36.0 relates to collapses of dams or man-made structures leading to earth movement, while X36.1 addresses natural events like avalanches, landslides, rockfalls, and mudslides. Synonyms such as "accident caused by collapse of dam," "snow avalanche," or "volcanic mudflow" aid in matching clinical scenarios to the correct ICD-10 code. The seventh character modifiers distinguish whether the encounter is initial (XXA), subsequent (XXD), or relates to sequela (long-term complications - XXS). This detailed coding ensures accurate documentation for injuries from earth movement disasters, improving clinical reporting and data analysis for natural hazard-related incidents.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the X36 range?
Of the 9 codes in this range, 6 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the X36 range classify?
The range classifies avalanche, landslide and other earth movements. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
