Z18.01 vs Z77.012
Z18.01 (Retained depleted uranium fragments) compared with Z77.012 (Contact with and (suspected) exposure to uranium), 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. Z77.012 carries an Excludes1 note covering Z18.01: “retained depleted uranium fragments (Z18.01)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Yes, when both are documented. Z77.012 carries an Excludes2 note covering Z18.01: “retained foreign body (Z18.-)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| Z18.01Retained depleted uranium fragments | Z77.012Contact with and (suspected) exposure to uranium | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Billable |
| Classification | Z00-Z99 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) | Z00-Z99 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) |
| Definition | Retained depleted uranium fragments is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z18.01). | Contact with and (suspected) exposure to uranium is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z77.012). |
| Includes | embedded fragment (status) embedded splinter (status) retained foreign body status | contact with and (suspected) exposures to potential hazards to health |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources