Skip to main content

W25 vs W44.C2XA

W25 (Contact with sharp glass) compared with W44.C2XA (Intact glass entering into or through a natural orifice, initial encounter), 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. W44.C2XA carries an Excludes2 note covering W25: “contact with sharp glass (W25)”

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

Side by side

W25Contact with sharp glassW44.C2XAIntact glass entering into or through a natural orifice, initial encounter
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: W25.XXXA, W25.XXXD, W25.XXXS

Billable
ClassificationV00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99)V00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99)
DefinitionContact with sharp glass is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (W25).Intact glass entering into or through a natural orifice, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (W44.C2A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W25The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W44
Includes
Intact glass bottle entering into or through a natural orifice
Code first
any associated:
injury due to flying glass from explosion or firearm discharge (W32-W40)

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