2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A20.3Plague meningitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A20-A28›A20

ICD-10-CM A20.3
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

A20.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for plague meningitis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 867 through 869. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) and places an inpatient stay in the highest severity level of its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 2 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as plague. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections and Meningitis.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A20.3
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Plague meningitis
Short Description
Plague meningitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A20
Plague

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA20-A28Certain zoonotic bacterial diseases
CategoryA20Plague
This CodeA20.3Plague meningitis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Plague
  • Plague meningitis

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to A20.3: its own notes plus those printed at A20 and Chapter 1. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From A20 Plague applies to 7 codes
  • infection due to Yersinia pestis
From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • diseases generally recognized as communicable or transmissible

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • 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)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name A20.3, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming A20.3: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • A28.2 Extraintestinal yersiniosis
    plague (A20.-) names A20.-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INF003
Bacterial infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR NVS001
Meningitis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Plague

    an acute infectious disease caused by yersinia pestis that affects humans, wild rodents, and their ectoparasites. this condition persists due to its firm entrenchment in sylvatic rodent-flea ecosystems throughout the world. bubonic plague is the most common form.

Patient EducationClinical

Meningitis

Meningitis is inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. There are several types of meningitis. The most common is viral meningitis. You get it when a virus enters the body through the nose or mouth and travels to the brain. Bacterial meningitis is rare but can be deadly.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert A20.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
020.8 Other types of plague
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About A20.3Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for plague meningitis?

The ICD-10-CM code for plague meningitis is A20.3 (sometimes written as A203). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is A20.3 (Plague) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report plague meningitis on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does A20.3 group to?

When plague meningitis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 867, 869, 868, with relative weights from 0.6784 to 2.1855 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is A20.3 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists A20.3 as an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it places the inpatient stay in the highest-weighted DRG of its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 2 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A20.3?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, plague meningitis converts to ICD-9-CM 020.8 (other types of plague). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.