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R18

Non-billable

Ascites

R18 is the ICD-10-CM code for Ascites. It is a non-billable category code — use a more specific child code such as R18.0 for billing.

Status
Header (non-billable)
Chapter
R00-R99
Subcodes
2
Edition
FY2026

R00-R99 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified

What this means — in plain language

MedlinePlus · NIH

Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. There are many kinds of liver diseases: Diseases caused by viruses, such as hepatitis A , hepatitis B , and hepatitis C Diseases caused by drugs, poisons, or too much alcohol. Examples include fatty liver disease and cirrhosis . Liver cancer Inherited diseases, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson…

Read more about Liver Diseases at MedlinePlus ↗

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Informational only — not medical advice.

Includes

  • •fluid in peritoneal cavity

Excludes1 — not coded here

  • •ascites in alcoholic cirrhosis (K70.31)
  • •ascites in alcoholic hepatitis (K70.11)
  • •ascites in toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis (K71.51)

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code R18?
R18 is the ICD-10-CM code for "Ascites". It falls under R00-R99 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.
Is R18 a billable code?
No — R18 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code (such as R18.0) for billing.
What are the subcodes of R18?
R18 has 2 more specific child codes, including R18.0, R18.8.
What is excluded from R18?
Excludes1 (not coded here): ascites in alcoholic cirrhosis (K70.31); ascites in alcoholic hepatitis (K70.11); ascites in toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis (K71.51).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM FY2026. For informational purposes only — not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.

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