2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A68.9Relapsing fever, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A65-A69›A68

ICD-10-CM A68.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

A68.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for relapsing fever, unspecified. 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 56 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Parasitic, other specified and unspecified infections.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A68.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Relapsing fever, unspecified
Short Description
Relapsing fever, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A68
Relapsing fevers

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA65-A69Other spirochetal diseases
CategoryA68Relapsing fevers
This CodeA68.9Relapsing fever, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to A68.9: its own notes plus those printed at A68, block A65-A69, 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 A68 Relapsing fevers applies to 3 codes
  • recurrent fever
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 A68 Relapsing fevers applies to 3 codes
From Block A65-A69 Other spirochetal diseases applies to 28 codes
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.

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 INF009
Parasitic, other specified and unspecified infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Relapsing Fever

    an acute infection characterized by recurrent episodes of pyrexia alternating with asymptomatic intervals of apparent recovery. this condition is caused by spirochetes of the genus borrelia. it is transmitted by the bites of either the body louse (pediculus humanus corporis), for which humans are the reservoir, or by soft ticks of the genus ornithodoros, for which rodents and other animals are the principal reservoirs.

Patient EducationClinical

Bacterial Infections

Bacteria are tiny organisms (living things) that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods, or spirals. They can be found almost everywhere on Earth. There are lots of bacteria in and on your body. In fact, your body has about 10 times more bacteria cells than human cells.

The full article covers:

  • What are bacteria?
  • How do bacterial infections spread?
  • What are the treatments for bacterial infections?
  • Can bacterial infections be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert A68.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
087.9 Relapsing fever NOS
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 A68.9Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for relapsing fever, unspecified?

The ICD-10-CM code for relapsing fever, unspecified is A68.9 (sometimes written as A689). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is A68.9 (Relapsing fevers) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does A68.9 group to?

When relapsing fever, unspecified 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 A68.9 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists A68.9 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 56 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A68.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, relapsing fever, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 087.9 (relapsing fever NOS). The mapping is a direct match.