A68.9 — Relapsing fever, unspecified
Is A68.9 billable?
Yes, but A68.9 is an unspecified code. A68.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, A68.9 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 A68.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
A68.9 at a glance
| Code | A68.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Relapsing fever, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does A68.9 group to?
A68.9 sits in MDC 18 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 867Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with MCCmedical
- 868Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with CCmedical
- 869Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses without CC/MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, A68.9 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is A68.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to A68.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Novy's relapsing fever
- Relapsing fever
- Fever › relapsing (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor)
- Koch's › relapsing fever
- Relapsing fever › Koch's
- Relapsing fever › Spirillum
- Fever › relapsing › Koch's (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 1
Report an additional code alongside A68.9 to fully describe the condition. A68.9 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 A68.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, A68.9 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)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from A65-A69
The conditions below are not part of A68.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, A68.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from A68
The conditions below are not part of A68.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, A68.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- Lyme disease (A69.2-)
How long has A68.9 existed?
A68.9 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.