Coding and coverage · ICD-10-CM

T71 › T71.1

T71.15 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture

Not billable (header)Chapter 19

This code needs a 7th character (use X as a placeholder for missing characters).

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Codes under this one

  • T71.151 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidentalHeader
  • T71.152 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, intentional self-harmHeader
  • T71.153 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, assaultHeader
  • T71.154 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, undeterminedHeader

Instructional notes

Chapter 19

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
Use additional codeAdd a second code for the full picture.
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Notes
  • 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.

T71

Excludes1Not coded here: never report with this code, except when the two conditions are unrelated.
  • 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.-)
Inclusion terms
  • Mechanical suffocation
  • Traumatic suffocation
7th charactersThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71
  • A initial encounter
  • D subsequent encounter
  • S sequela

T71.1

Inclusion terms
  • Suffocation due to mechanical threat to breathing

Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes · T07-T88 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (T07-T88)

Source: ICD-10-CM FY 2027 code descriptions and tabular list (CMS and CDC National Center for Health Statistics), effective 2026-10-01 through 2027-09-30 · CMS ICD-10 files. HCC mapping: CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2027. As of 2026-11-04.

Coverage and payment depend on the claim details; confirm with the Medicare Administrative Contractor.