S50.851A — Superficial foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter
Is S50.851A billable?
Yes — S50.851A is billable for FY2027. S50.851A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. S50.851A may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
S50.851A at a glance
| Code | S50.851A |
|---|---|
| Description | Superficial foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| 7th character "A" | initial encounter |
What does the 7th character "A" mean in S50.851A?
In S50.851A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for S50.851A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does S50.851A group to?
S50.851A sits in MDC 09 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 604Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast with MCCmedical
- 605Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast without MCCmedical
How is S50.851A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S50.85, the nearest indexed parent of S50.851A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Foreign body › superficial, without open wound › forearm
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S50.851A to fully describe the condition. S50.851A is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of S50.851A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S50.851A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S50-S59
The conditions below are not part of S50.851A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S50.851A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S50
The conditions below are not part of S50.851A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S50.851A and the excluded code may both be reported.
- superficial injury of wrist and hand (S60.-)
How long has S50.851A existed?
S50.851A has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.