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Compare/W18.31XS vs W18.41

W18.31XS vs W18.41

W18.31XS (Fall on same level due to stepping on an object, sequela) compared with W18.41 (Slipping, tripping and stumbling without falling due to stepping on object), 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. W18.31XS carries an Excludes1 note covering W18.41: “slipping, tripping and stumbling without fall due to stepping on animal (W18.41)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

No — do not report together. W18.41 carries an Excludes1 note covering W18.31XS: “slipping, tripping and stumbling with fall due to stepping on animal (W18.31)”

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

W18.31XSFall on same level due to stepping on an object, sequelaW18.41Slipping, tripping and stumbling without falling due to stepping on object
Billing statusBillableNon-billable header

Report instead: W18.41XA, W18.41XD, W18.41XS

ClassificationV00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99)V00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99)
DefinitionFall on same level due to stepping on an object, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (W18.31S).Slipping, tripping and stumbling without falling due to stepping on object is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (W18.41).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W18The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W18
Includes
Fall on same level due to stepping on an animal
Slipping, tripping and stumbling without falling due to stepping on animal

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