Z18

Z18: Retained foreign body fragments

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

Z18 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for retained foreign body fragments. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1: never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

artificial joint prosthesis status (Z96.6-)
foreign body accidentally left during a procedure (T81.5-)
foreign body entering through orifice (T15-T19)
in situ cardiac device (Z95.-)
organ or tissue replaced by means other than transplant (Z96.-, Z97.-)
organ or tissue replaced by transplant (Z94.-)
personal history of retained foreign body fully removed Z87.821
superficial foreign body (non-embedded splinter) - code to superficial foreign body, by site

Includes

Conditions this code covers.

embedded fragment (status)
embedded splinter (status)
retained foreign body status

Other codes that can never be billed with Z18

Their own Excludes1 notes name this code, so the conflict is not listed above.

Z77.012Contact with and (suspected) exposure to uranium
Z03.82Encounter for observation for suspected foreign body ruled out
Z18.1Retained metal fragments

Risk adjustment

No CMS-HCC V28 category: this code does not change a RAF score.

Code history

Unchanged in every release from FY2024 to FY2027.

Code to one of these instead Z18

6 child codes. Green means billable.