2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I26.03Cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale

ICD-10-CM Codes›I00–I99›I26-I28›I26

ICD-10-CM I26.03
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

I26.03 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 175 through 176. 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 Complication of internal orthopedic device or implant, initial encounter; and Postprocedural or postoperative circulatory system complication.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
I26.03
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale
Short Description
Cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
I26.0
Pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale

Code Classification

ChapterI00–I99Diseases of the circulatory system
SectionI26-I28Pulmonary heart disease and diseases of pulmonary circulation
CategoryI26Pulmonary embolism
This CodeI26.03Cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for I26.03.

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.

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Code First

  • complication of other artery following a procedure T81.718

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.

    • Embolism(multiple) (paradoxical)
      • cement
        • pulmonary artery
          • with acute cor pulmonale
    • Embolism(multiple) (paradoxical)
      • pulmonary (acute) (artery) (vein)
        • cement
          • with acute cor pulmonale

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR INJ035
Complication of internal orthopedic device or implant, initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR CIR038
Postprocedural or postoperative circulatory system complication
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement I26.03 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • I26.09 - Other pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale
FY 2025AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2024.
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About I26.03Overview

Is I26.03 (Pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does I26.03 group to?

On inpatient claims, cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale maps to MS-DRG 175, 176, with relative weights from 0.8050 to 1.3736 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can I26.03 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

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.