R18 vs R60
R18 (Ascites) compared with R60 (Edema, not elsewhere classified), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. R60 carries an Excludes1 note covering R18: “ascites (R18.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| R18Ascites | R60Edema, not elsewhere classified | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) |
| Definition | Ascites is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R18). | Edema, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R60). |
| Includes | fluid in peritoneal cavity | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources