A40.9 — Streptococcal sepsis, unspecified
Is A40.9 billable?
Yes, but A40.9 is an unspecified code. A40.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, A40.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting A40.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
A40.9 at a glance
| Code | A40.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Streptococcal sepsis, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does A40.9 group to?
A40.9 sits in MDC 15 and helps define the logic of 1 MS-DRG (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 791Prematurity with Major Problemsmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, A40.9 is a major complication or comorbidity (MCC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is A40.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to A40.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Sepsis › Streptococcus, streptococcal (generalized) (unspecified organism)
- Embolism › pyemic › streptococcal (multiple) (paradoxical)
- Infection, infected, infective › streptococcal NEC › generalized (opportunistic)
- Disorder › tubulo-interstitial › sepsis › streptococcal (of)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from A40
The conditions below can never be reported together with A40.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Code first — inherited from A40
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before A40.9. A40.9 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
- , if applicable, postprocedural sepsis (T81.44-)
- sepsis due to central venous catheter (T80.211-)
- streptococcal sepsis during labor (O75.3)
- streptococcal sepsis following abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O03.37, O03.87, O04.87, O07.37, O08.82)
- streptococcal sepsis following immunization (T88.0-)
- streptococcal sepsis following infusion, transfusion or therapeutic injection (T80.22-, T80.29-)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 1
Report an additional code alongside A40.9 to fully describe the condition. A40.9 is sequenced first.
- code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 1
The conditions below are not part of A40.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, A40.9 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)
How long has A40.9 existed?
A40.9 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.