F84.9 — Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified
Is F84.9 billable?
Yes, but F84.9 is an unspecified code. F84.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, F84.9 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 F84.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
F84.9 at a glance
| Code | F84.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does F84.9 group to?
F84.9 sits in MDC 19 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.
- 885Psychosesmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, F84.9 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is F84.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to F84.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Autism, autistic › atypical (childhood) (infantile)
- Disorder › pervasive, developmental (of)
- Delay, delayed › development › pervasive
- Disorder › developmental › pervasive (of)
- Disability, disabilities › intellectual › with › autistic features
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to F84.9.
- Atypical autism
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 5
The conditions below are not part of F84.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, F84.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
Code also — inherited from F84
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether F84.9 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated medical condition and intellectual disabilities
How long has F84.9 existed?
F84.9 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.