Is T81.69 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. T81.69 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does T81.69 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).

T81.69

T81.69 — Other acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure

Non-billable headerICD-10-CMleft

T81.69 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for other acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure. 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 T81

A: initial encounter
D: subsequent encounter
S: sequela

Risk adjustment

T81.69 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 T81.69 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 T81.69.

Reaction›foreign›substance accidentally left during a procedure›specified reaction NEC
Foreign body›accidentally left following a procedure›causing›acute reaction›specified complication NEC
Foreign body›accidentally left following a procedure›cardiac catheterization›resulting in›acute reaction›specified NEC
Foreign body›accidentally left following a procedure›packing removal›resulting in›acute reaction›specified NEC
Foreign body›accidentally left following a procedure›specified procedure NEC›resulting in›acute reaction›specified NEC
Foreign body›accidentally left following a procedure›surgical operation›resulting in›acute reaction›specified NEC

Code to one of these instead T81.69

3 child codes. Green means billable.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share T81.6. If T81.69 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about T81.69

Is T81.69 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. T81.69 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does T81.69 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).