W44.9XXS — Unspecified foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
Is W44.9XXS billable?
Yes, but W44.9XXS is an unspecified code. W44.9XXS is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, W44.9XXS is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting W44.9XXS — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- W44.A0XSBattery unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.B0XSPlastic object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.C0XSGlass unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.D0XSMagnetic metal object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.E0XSNon-magnetic metal object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.F0XSObjects of natural or organic material unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.G0XSOther non-organic objects unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.H0XSOther sharp object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
- W44.8XXSOther foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela
W44.9XXS at a glance
| Code | W44.9XXS |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice, sequela |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| 7th character "S" | sequela |
What does the 7th character "S" mean in W44.9XXS?
In W44.9XXS, the 7th character S means sequela. The 7th character is required for W44.9XXS to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
How is W44.9XXS listed in the External Cause Index?
The External Cause of Injuries Index lists these routes under W44.9, the nearest indexed parent of W44.9XXS. This is a separate index from the Alphabetic Index and is where external cause codes are looked up.
- Foreign body › entering through › natural orifice
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to W44.9XXS.
- Foreign body NOS entering into or through a natural orifice
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from W20-W49
The conditions below can never be reported together with W44.9XXS on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from W44
The conditions below are not part of W44.9XXS, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, W44.9XXS and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has W44.9XXS existed?
W44.9XXS first appears in FY2024.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.