2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T17.900AUnspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T15-T19›T17

ICD-10-CM T17.900A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

T17.900A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 205 through 206. Coders also document this condition as inhalation or ingestion of foreign body with respiratory obstruction or suffocation. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Effect of foreign body entering opening, initial encounter; External cause codes: intent of injury, accidental/unintentional; and External cause codes: suffocation/inhalation; initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T17.900A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter
Short Description
Unsp fb in resp tract, part unsp causing asphyx, init
Parent Code
T17.900
Unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT15-T19Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice
CategoryT17Foreign body in respiratory tract
This CodeT17.900AUnspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Inhalation or ingestion of foreign body with respiratory obstruction or suffocation
  • Obstruction of airway caused by foreign body
  • Partial obstruction of airway caused by foreign body
  • Partially obstructed airway

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Foreign body in respiratory tract (T17). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ020
Effect of foreign body entering opening, initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR EXT020
External cause codes: intent of injury, accidental/unintentional
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR EXT017
External cause codes: suffocation/inhalation; initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Patient EducationClinical

Foreign Bodies

If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert T17.900A to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
934.9 FB respiratory tree NOS
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
E912 Resp obstr-inhal obj NEC
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About T17.900AOverview

Is T17.900A a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character A in T17.900A mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does T17.900A group to?

When unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 205, 206, with relative weights from 0.9411 to 1.8310 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of T17.900A?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified foreign body in respiratory tract, part unspecified causing asphyxiation, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 934.9 (FB respiratory tree NOS) and E912 (resp obstr-inhal obj NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.