2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code B02.1Zoster meningitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›B00-B09›B02

ICD-10-CM B02.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

B02.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for zoster meningitis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 75 through 76, 791, 793, 974 through 976. 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 72 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as herpes zoster meningitis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Meningitis and Viral infection.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
B02.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Zoster meningitis
Short Description
Zoster meningitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
B02
Zoster [herpes zoster]

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionB00-B09Viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions
CategoryB02Zoster [herpes zoster]
This CodeB02.1Zoster meningitis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Herpes zoster meningitis

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to B02.1: its own notes plus those printed at B02 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 B02 Zoster [herpes zoster] applies to 16 codes
  • shingles
  • zona
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 B02.1, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming B02.1: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • A87 Viral meningitis
    meningitis due to zoster (B02.1)
  • G02 Meningitis in other infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere
    zoster meningitis (B02.1)

Excludes2 4

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming B02.1: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • B10 Other human herpesviruses
    herpes zoster (B02.-) names B02.-, which includes this code
  • B10 Other human herpesviruses
    human herpesvirus 3 (B01.-, B02.-) names B02.-, which includes this code
  • B10 Other human herpesviruses
    zoster (B02.-) names B02.-, which includes this code
  • Block L00-L08 Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
    zoster (B02.-) names B02.-, 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 NVS001
Meningitis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR INF008
Viral infection
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

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 B02.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
053.0 Herpes zoster meningitis
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 B02.1Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for zoster meningitis?

The ICD-10-CM code for zoster meningitis is B02.1 (sometimes written as B021). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is B02.1 (Zoster [herpes zoster]) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does B02.1 group to?

When zoster meningitis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 793, 791, 974, 976, 975, 75, 76, with relative weights from 0.7879 to 4.2192 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is B02.1 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists B02.1 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 72 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of B02.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, zoster meningitis converts to ICD-9-CM 053.0 (herpes zoster meningitis). The mapping is a direct match.