2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I76Septic arterial embolism
I76 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for septic arterial embolism. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 299 through 301. The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. Coders also document this condition as embolism due to infective heart valve vegetation. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Aortic and peripheral arterial embolism or thrombosis and Septicemia.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for I76.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Embolism due to infective heart valve vegetation
- Intracranial arterial septic embolism
- Intracranial septic embolism
- Septic embolus of artery
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Code First
Use Additional Code
- code to identify the site of the embolism I74
Type 2 Excludes
Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
- Embolism (multiple) (paradoxical) - I74.9
- septic - I76
- pyemic (multiple) - I76
- septic (arterial) - I76
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Embolism(multiple) (paradoxical)
- artery
- septic
- Embolism(multiple) (paradoxical)
- pyemic (multiple)
- Embolism(multiple) (paradoxical)
- septic (arterial)
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Convert I76 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About I76Overview
Is I76 (Septic arterial embolism) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report septic arterial embolism on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does I76 group to?
On inpatient claims, septic arterial embolism maps to MS-DRG 299, 300, 301, with relative weights from 0.7197 to 1.6327 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can I76 be a principal diagnosis?
No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because septic arterial embolism 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 I76?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, septic arterial embolism converts to ICD-9-CM 449 (septic arterial embolism). 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.
