2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A36.89Other diphtheritic complications
ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A30-A49›A36
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- Not Chronic
A36.89 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other diphtheritic complications. 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 complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 12 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as anterior nasal diphtheria. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Anterior nasal diphtheria
- Autonomic disorder due to diphtheria
- Corynebacterial mastitis
- Diphtheria of penis
- Diphtheritic neuropathy
- Diphtheritic peritonitis
- Disorder of autonomic nervous system due to infectious disease
- Ocular diphtheria
- Respiratory diphtheria
- Tracheobronchial diphtheria
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to A36.89: its own notes plus those printed at 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.
- diseases generally recognized as communicable or transmissible
Applicable To
Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.
- Diphtheritic peritonitis
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.
- 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.
- 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 A36.89, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 3
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming A36.89: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Diphtheria, diphtheritic (gangrenous) (hemorrhagic) A36.9
nasal, anterior A36.89
neurological complication A36.89
specified site NEC A36.89
Peritonitis (adhesive) (bacterial) (fibrinous) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (localized) (perforative) (primary) (with adhesions) (with effusion) K65.9
diphtheritic A36.89
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Diphtheria
a localized infection of mucous membranes or skin caused by toxigenic strains of corynebacterium diphtheriae. it is characterized by the presence of a pseudomembrane at the site of infection. diphtheria toxin, produced by c. diphtheriae, can cause myocarditis, polyneuritis, and other systemic toxic effects.
Patient EducationClinical
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes. You can also get infected by coming in contact with an object, such as a toy, that has bacteria on it.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert A36.89 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About A36.89Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for other diphtheritic complications?
The ICD-10-CM code for other diphtheritic complications is A36.89 (sometimes written as A3689). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is A36.89 (Other diphtheria) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other diphtheritic complications on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does A36.89 group to?
When other diphtheritic complications 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 A36.89 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists A36.89 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 12 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A36.89?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other diphtheritic complications converts to ICD-9-CM 032.2 (ant nasal diphtheria), 032.83 (diphtheritic peritonitis), and 032.89 (diphtheria NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
