T18 — Foreign body in alimentary tract
T18 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for foreign body in alimentary tract. 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 T18
- A
- initial encounter
- D
- subsequent encounter
- S
- sequela
Excludes2 — not included here, but may coexist
The excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient can have both. You may code both.
- foreign body in pharynx (T17.2-)
Risk adjustment
T18 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.
How T18 is indexed
Coders do not find codes by browsing the tabular list — they look them up in the alphabetic index, under the word the physician wrote. These are the index entries that lead here, so you can see which chart wordings map to T18.
- Aspiration›food(any type) (into respiratory tract) (with asphyxia, obstruction respiratory tract, suffocation)
- Choked, choking›food(bone) (seed)
- Food in›air passages(with asphyxia, obstruction, or suffocation)
- Food in›alimentary tract causing asphyxia(due to compression of trachea)
- Inhalation›food(any type) (into respiratory tract) (with asphyxia, obstruction respiratory tract, suffocation)
- Interruption of respiration›food(lodged in esophagus)
- Asphyxia, asphyxiation›by›food(bone) (seed)
- Compression›trachea by›food(lodged in esophagus)
- Suffocation›due to, by›food, any type(aspiration) (ingestion) (inhalation)
Code to one of these instead T18
8 child codes. Green means billable.
Questions about T18
- Is T18 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- No. T18 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
- Where does T18 sit in the tabular list?
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice (T15-T19).