B81.8 — Other specified intestinal helminthiases
Is B81.8 billable?
Yes, but B81.8 is an unspecified code. B81.8 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, B81.8 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 B81.8 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
B81.8 at a glance
| Code | B81.8 |
|---|---|
| Description | Other specified intestinal helminthiases |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does B81.8 group to?
B81.8 sits in MDC 06 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 391Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders with MCCmedical
- 392Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders without MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, B81.8 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is B81.8 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to B81.8. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Esophagostomiasis
- Physalopteriasis
- Ternidens diminutus infestation
- Ternidensiasis
- Infection, infected, infective › Oesophagostomum (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › Ternidens diminutus (opportunistic)
- Infestation › Oesophagostomum
- Infestation › Ternidens diminutus
- Helminthiasis › intestinal › specified type NEC
- Infestation › nematode NEC › specified NEC
- Infection, infected, infective › helminths › intestinal › specified type NEC (opportunistic)
- Infestation › helminth › intestinal › specified › type NEC
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to B81.8.
- Infection due to Oesophagostomum species [esophagostomiasis]
- Infection due to Ternidens diminutus [ternidensiasis]
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from B81
The conditions below can never be reported together with B81.8 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 1
Report an additional code alongside B81.8 to fully describe the condition. B81.8 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 B81.8, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, B81.8 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 B81.8 existed?
B81.8 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.