T16 vs Z03.822
T16 (Foreign body in ear) compared with Z03.822 (Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out), 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. Z03.822 carries an Excludes2 note covering T16: “foreign body in ear (T16)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| T16Foreign body in ear | Z03.822Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header Report instead: T16.1XXA, T16.1XXD, T16.1XXS, T16.2XXA, T16.2XXD | Billable |
| Classification | S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) | Z00-Z99 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) |
| Definition | Foreign body in ear is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T16). | Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z03.822). |
| 7th character | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T16 | — |
| Includes | foreign body in auditory canal | — |
| Use additional code | code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-) | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources