T56 — Toxic effect of metals

Not billable

Is T56 billable?

No — T56 is a non-billable header code. T56 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 60 billable codes beneath T56.

Billable codes under this header

T56 at a glance

Code	T56
Description	Toxic effect of metals
Billable	No — header code
Code set	ICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encounters	October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Excludes1 — never code together

The conditions below can never be reported together with T56 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

arsenic and its compounds (T57.0)
manganese and its compounds (T57.2)

Use additional code

Report an additional code alongside T56 to fully describe the condition. T56 is sequenced first.

code to identify any retained metal foreign body, if applicable (Z18.0-, T18.1-)

Includes

Conditions classified to T56.

toxic effects of fumes and vapors of metals
toxic effects of metals from all sources, except medicinal substances

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from T51-T65

The conditions below can never be reported together with T56 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

contact with and (suspected) exposure to toxic substances (Z77.-)

Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19

Report an additional code alongside T56 to fully describe the condition. T56 is sequenced first.

code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Use additional code — inherited from T51-T65

Report an additional code alongside T56 to fully describe the condition. T56 is sequenced first.

code(s):
for all associated manifestations of toxic effect, such as: respiratory conditions due to external agents (J60-J70)
personal history of foreign body fully removed (Z87.821)
to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19

The conditions below are not part of T56, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T56 and the excluded code may both be reported.

birth trauma (P10-P15)
obstetric trauma (O70-O71)

What codes fall under T56? (10)

How long has T56 existed?

T56 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.