2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code B18Chronic viral hepatitis

ICD-10-CM CodesA00–B99B15-B19B18

ICD-10-CM B18
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

B18 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for chronic viral hepatitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as B18.0, B18.1, B18.2, and B18.8.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
B18
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Chronic viral hepatitis
Chapter
B15-B19
Viral hepatitis

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionB15-B19Viral hepatitis
CategoryB18Chronic viral hepatitis
This CodeB18Chronic viral hepatitis

Specific Coding for Chronic viral hepatitisOverview

Non-specific codes like B18 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use B18.0 for Chronic viral hepatitis B with delta-agent

  • Use B18.1 for Chronic viral hepatitis B without delta-agent

  • Use B18.2 for Chronic viral hepatitis C

  • Use B18.8 for Other chronic viral hepatitis

  • Use B18.9 for Chronic viral hepatitis, unspecified

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Includes

  • Carrier of viral hepatitis

Use Additional Code

  • code, if applicable, for ascites R18.8

Patient EducationClinical

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.

The full article covers:

  • What is hepatitis?
  • What causes hepatitis?
  • How is viral hepatitis spread?
  • Who is at risk for hepatitis?
  • What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
  • What other problems can hepatitis cause?
  • How is hepatitis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for hepatitis?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About B18Overview

Is B18 (Chronic viral hepatitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for chronic viral hepatitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for chronic viral hepatitis need a more specific code from this category, such as B18.0, B18.1, and B18.2.