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T17.990A vs T17.990S

T17.990A (Other foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, initial encounter) compared with T17.990S (Other foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, sequela), from the official CMS tabular data. T17.990A and T17.990S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Encounter relationship

T17.990A
Initial encounter
Other foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, initial encounter
↔
T17.990S
Sequela
Other foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, sequela

Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

The 7th character records the phase of care for the encounter being coded, so a single encounter takes one of these characters, not several. Review whether both phases belong on the same episode of care.

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a

Can these codes be reported together?

Same injury, other encounter phase. T17.990A and T17.990S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment, set by the 7th character.

The 7th character records the type of care given at the encounter being coded (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a), so one encounter takes one of these, not both.

Side by side

T17.990AOther foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, initial encounterT17.990SOther foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, sequela
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
DefinitionOther foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T17.990A).Other foreign object in respiratory tract, part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T17.990S).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T17The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T17
Use additional code
code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-)
code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-)
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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources