ICD-10-CM R18 is the diagnosis code for Ascites. This code falls under the section "Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen" within Chapter 18 — Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99). It is a non-billable/non-specific ICD-10-CM code that should not be used for reimbursement. A more specific sub-code is required for billing. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.
The following conditions should never be coded at the same time as R18. They are mutually exclusive:
Understanding where R18 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:
No, R18 is a non-billable/non-specific code. You should use a more specific sub-code for billing and reimbursement.
R18 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Ascites". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.
R18 is located in Section R10-R19 — "Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen" within Chapter 18 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
R18 has 2 sub-code(s) that provide more specific detail: R18.0, R18.8.
Use R18 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Ascites" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.
The ICD-10-CM code for Ascites is R18.
No, R18 is non-billable. Use a more specific sub-code for primary diagnosis billing.
R18 is in Chapter 18 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Type 1 Excludes for R18 include: ascites in alcoholic cirrhosis (K70.31); ascites in alcoholic hepatitis (K70.11); ascites in toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis (K71.51).
Yes, R18 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.