History of Falls ICD-10-CM Codes
Read this short guide to learn about the lone History of Falls ICD code you can use.
Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.
What History of Falls ICD code can I use?
If you’re looking for History of Falls ICD codes, there is only one that you can use, and that is Z91.81 - History of Falling.
As its name suggests, this is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have fallen before, whether once or several times.
This ICD-10 code is considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis because it isn’t diagnosing anything in the first place. It’s an ICD-10 code explaining a person’s health condition.
For example, you’re handling an elderly patient who cannot walk because they injured their right leg. Let’s stipulate that it’s broken. The principal diagnosis for that should be something like S82.111A - Displaced fracture of right tibial spine, initial encounter for closed fracture. During the examination of this problem, the patient mentioned that they had fallen several times before, which resulted in their inability to walk for now. You can use Z91.81 - History of falling to support the principal diagnosis because it explains why the patient broke their right leg. It was due to several falls, each making it more susceptible to breaking.
Is this History of Falls ICD code billable?
Yes. Even if it’s unacceptable as a principal diagnosis, this lone History of Falls ICD code is valid in general and billable.
Clinical information about falls:
Falling from a ladder, a chair, a stairwell, or a roof can lead to terrible outcomes. You can sprain or strain a limb, dislocate it, fracture or break a bone, or die. If a fall doesn’t cause injuries, it might make the person who fell more susceptible to injury the next time they fall, hence the example earlier.
A person is more likely to experience further falls as they experience more falls. Due to the deterioration of their bodies with age, this is particularly true for older people and the elderly. Falls-related injuries can lower a person's overall quality of life because they may make it more difficult for them to engage in their favorite activities. After all, they might not be as agile as they once were or unable to perform them. Even basic daily tasks may be difficult for them to carry out independently.
Synonyms include:
- At low risk for fall
- At risk for falls
- At very low risk for fall
- History of fall
Commonly asked questions
Knowing if a patient has had a history of falling can help healthcare professionals explain why the patient got injured or why they are at risk of getting hurt if they ever fall again. This also allows them to plan what they can do for them as part of their treatment or intervention.
Yes. There are several, and they come in the form of tests such as the 30-second Sit-to-Stand Test. These mobility and balance tests should help determine how at risk a person is of falling based on the results, and they can re-conduct these tests again to monitor patients for consistency, improvement, or decline when it comes to their mobility and balance capabilities.
They will likely develop a plan that ensures that the patient receives the proper support when performing certain activities, especially activities of daily living. They might even include a physical therapy program for rehabilitating any injuries they’ve sustained due to falls.
