Skip to main content

F10 vs R78

F10 (Alcohol related disorders) compared with R78 (Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented. R78 carries an Excludes2 note covering F10: “mental or behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

Side by side

F10Alcohol related disordersR78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: F10.10, F10.11, F10.120, F10.121, F10.129

Non-billable header

Report instead: R78.0, R78.1, R78.2, R78.3, R78.4

ClassificationF01-F99 — Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (F01-F99)R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99)
DefinitionAlcohol related disorders is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (F10).Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R78).
Use additional code
code for blood alcohol level, if applicable (Y90.-)
code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources