2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z18.12Retained nonmagnetic metal fragments

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z18›Z18

ICD-10-CM Z18.12
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z18.12 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for retained nonmagnetic metal fragments. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as retained nonmagnetic foreign body in left eye. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z18.12
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Retained nonmagnetic metal fragments
Short Description
Retained nonmagnetic metal fragments
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z18.1
Retained metal fragments

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ18Retained foreign body fragments
CategoryZ18Retained foreign body fragments
This CodeZ18.12Retained nonmagnetic metal fragments

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z18.12.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z18.12 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in left eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in right eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic intraocular foreign body
  • Retained old traumatic intraocular foreign body

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Retained
      • foreign body fragments (type of)
        • nonmagnectic metal
    • Retained
      • fragments (type of )
        • nonmagnectic metal

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC025
Other specified status
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

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 Z18.12 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V90.12 Retain nonmag meta frag
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 Z18.12Overview

Is Z18.12 (Retained metal fragments) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report retained nonmagnetic metal fragments on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z18.12 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because retained nonmagnetic metal fragments describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z18.12 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for retained nonmagnetic metal fragments on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z18.12?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, retained nonmagnetic metal fragments converts to ICD-9-CM V90.12 (retain nonmag meta frag). The mapping is a direct match.