Drown due to being washed overboard from inflatbl crft, subs

This code describes an injury resulting from a near-drowning or drowning event where the individual was washed overboard from an unpowered inflatable vessel. This particular code specifies that it is for a subsequent encounter, meaning the patient is receiving follow-up care for an injury that occurred previously.

Use this code for patients presenting for ongoing treatment, evaluation, or management of complications arising from a prior incident of being washed overboard from an unpowered inflatable craft and subsequently drowning or experiencing a near-drowning event. This includes conditions like aspiration pneumonia, hypoxic brain injury, or other sequelae.

• Ensure the documentation clearly indicates the patient is receiving follow-up care for the initial drowning/submersion event.
• Verify the type of watercraft involved was an unpowered inflatable craft (e.g., raft, inner tube).
• Always code the specific sequelae or complications of the drowning (e.g., J69.0 for aspiration pneumonia) as the primary diagnosis, with this code as an external cause code.