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Compare/W29 vs W45

W29 vs W45

W29 (Contact with other powered hand tools and household machinery) compared with W45 (Foreign body or object entering through skin), 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. W45 carries an Excludes2 note covering W29: “contact with hand tools (nonpowered) (powered) (W27-W29)”

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

Side by side

W29Contact with other powered hand tools and household machineryW45Foreign body or object entering through skin
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: W29.0XXA, W29.0XXD, W29.0XXS, W29.1XXA, W29.1XXD

Non-billable header

Report instead: W45.0XXA, W45.0XXD, W45.0XXS, W45.3XXA, W45.3XXD

ClassificationV00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99)V00-Y99 — External Causes of Morbidity (V00-Y99)
DefinitionContact with other powered hand tools and household machinery is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (W29).Foreign body or object entering through skin is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (W45).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W29The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W45
Includes
foreign body or object embedded in skin
nail embedded in skin

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