A15 — Respiratory tuberculosis
Is A15 billable?
No — A15 is a non-billable header code. A15 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 7 billable codes beneath A15.
A15 at a glance
| Code | A15 |
|---|---|
| Description | Respiratory tuberculosis |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from A15-A19
The conditions below can never be reported together with A15 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- congenital tuberculosis (P37.0)
- nonspecific reaction to test for tuberculosis without active tuberculosis (R76.1-)
- pneumoconiosis associated with tuberculosis, any type in A15 (J65)
- positive PPD (R76.11)
- positive tuberculin skin test without active tuberculosis (R76.11)
- sequelae of tuberculosis (B90.-)
- silicotuberculosis (J65)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 1
Report an additional code alongside A15 to fully describe the condition. A15 is sequenced first.
- code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)
Use additional code — inherited from A15-A19
Report an additional code alongside A15 to fully describe the condition. A15 is sequenced first.
- code, if applicable, for associated cachexia (E88.A)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 1
The conditions below are not part of A15, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, A15 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- carrier or suspected carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)
- certain localized infections - see body system-related chapters
- infectious and parasitic diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O98.-)
- infectious and parasitic diseases specific to the perinatal period (P35-P39)
- influenza and other acute respiratory infections (J00-J22)
What codes fall under A15? (7)
How long has A15 existed?
A15 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
Which codes are confused with A15?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with A15 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.