Is T88.5 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. T88.5 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does T88.5 sit in the tabular list?

Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified (T80-T88).

T88.5

T88.5 — Other complications of anesthesia

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

T88.5 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for other complications of anesthesia. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below. This code also requires a 7th character before it is complete.

This code requires a 7th character

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T88

A: initial encounter
D: subsequent encounter
S: sequela

Use additional code

Add a secondary code to capture the detail described below.

code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T41.- with fifth or sixth character 5)

Other codes that can never be billed with T88.5

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at T88.5. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading T88.5 alone.

R68.0Hypothermia, not associated with low environmental temperature
T68Hypothermia
T68.XXXAHypothermia, initial encounter
T68.XXXDHypothermia, subsequent encounter
T68.XXXSHypothermia, sequela

Risk adjustment

T88.5 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code to one of these instead T88.5

4 child codes. Green means billable.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share T88. If T88.5 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about T88.5

Is T88.5 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. T88.5 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does T88.5 sit in the tabular list?: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified (T80-T88).