2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code B96.81Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›B95-B97›B96

ICD-10-CM B96.81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

B96.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 867 through 869. The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
B96.81
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
Short Description
Helicobacter pylori as the cause of diseases classd elswhr
Parent Code
B96.8
Other specified bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionB95-B97Bacterial and viral infectious agents
CategoryB96Other bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
This CodeB96.81Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for B96.81.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute pyloric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Anastomotic ulcer of stomach caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Bacterial duodenitis
  • Chronic gastric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Chronic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Chronic pyloric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Colitis caused by Helicobacter
  • Disease caused by Helicobacter
  • Duodenal ulcer caused by bacterium
  • Duodenal ulcer caused by drug
  • Duodenal ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Duodenal ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent
  • Duodenal ulcer caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
  • Duodenitis caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Gastric hemorrhage caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Gastric ulcer caused by bacterium
  • Gastric ulcer caused by drug
  • Gastric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori
  • Gastric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent
  • Gastric ulcer caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in therapeutic use
  • Gastritis caused by Helicobacter
  • Helicobacter blood test finding
  • Helicobacter detected by serology
  • Helicobacter detected in blood
  • Helicobacter pylori gastrointestinal tract infection
  • Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis
  • Helicobacter-associated pyloric ulcer
  • Infective proctitis
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy
  • Proctitis caused by Helicobacter
  • Pyloric ulcer

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • bacterial NOS
        • as cause of disease classified elsewhere
          • Helicobacter pylori [H.pylori]
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • Campylobacter, intestinal
        • as cause of disease classified elsewhere
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • Helicobacter pylori
        • as cause of disease classified elsewhere

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

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

Patient EducationClinical

Helicobacter Pylori Infections

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that causes infection in the stomach. It is the main cause of peptic ulcers, and it can also cause gastritis and stomach cancer.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert B96.81 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
041.86 Helicobacter pylori
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About B96.81Overview

Is B96.81 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does B96.81 group to?

On inpatient claims, helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere maps to MS-DRG 867, 868, 869, with relative weights from 0.7297 to 2.0932 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can B96.81 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of B96.81?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere converts to ICD-9-CM 041.86 (helicobacter pylori). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.