Plague
In Certain zoonotic bacterial diseases (A20-A28), chapter 1: Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
7 billable codes under A20: all are an MCC; 1 map to HCC 2 (Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock).A CC or MCC (major CC) is a secondary diagnosis that raises the MS-DRG payment. An HCC counts toward a Medicare Advantage patient's risk score.
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Instructional notes
Includes: conditions that are coded here
- infection due to Yersinia pestis
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
Rules for coding infections and parasitic diseases, including HIV, organism and drug resistance codes, sepsis and septic shock, MRSA, Zika, and COVID-19.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections (page 19)
- Infectious agents as the cause of diseases classified to other chapters (page 22)
- Infections resistant to antibiotics (page 22)
- Sepsis, Severe Sepsis, and Septic Shock (page 23)
- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Conditions (page 27)
- Zika virus infections (page 28)
- Coronavirus infections (page 28)
All codes under A20
A20 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
A20 MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, the billable codes under A20 group to these 9 MS-DRGs (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.
- DRG 867 Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with MCC (5 of 7 codes)
- DRG 868 Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with CC (5 of 7 codes)
- DRG 869 Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses without CC/MCC (5 of 7 codes)
- DRG 177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC (1 of 7 codes)
- DRG 178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC (1 of 7 codes)
- DRG 179 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations without CC/MCC (1 of 7 codes)
- DRG 870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours (1 of 7 codes)
- DRG 871 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (1 of 7 codes)
- DRG 872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC (1 of 7 codes)
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Plague
Plague is an infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The bacteria are found mainly in rats and in the fleas that feed on them. People and other animals can get plague from rat or flea bites. In the past, plague destroyed entire civilizations. Today plague is uncommon, due to better living conditions and antibiotics.
Read more about plague on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.