2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O68Labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance
ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O60-O77›O68
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- Not Chronic
O68 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 998. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 3 closely related codes. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Coders also document this condition as antepartum fetal acidosis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Malposition, disproportion or other labor complications.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O68.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Antepartum fetal acidosis
- Fetal acidosis
- Fetal metabolic disorder
- Intrapartum fetal acidosis
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Fetal acidemia complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal acidosis complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal alkalosis complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal metabolic acidemia complicating labor and delivery
Type 1 Excludes
- fetal stress NOS O77.9
- labor and delivery complicated by electrocardiographic evidence of fetal stress O77.8
- labor and delivery complicated by ultrasonic evidence of fetal stress O77.8
Type 2 Excludes
- abnormality in fetal heart rate or rhythm O76
- labor and delivery complicated by meconium in amniotic fluid O77.0
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
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.
Pregnancy (single) (uterine) See Also: Delivery and Puerperal; Z33.1
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Childbirth Problems
Childbirth is the process of giving birth to a baby. It includes labor and delivery. Usually everything goes well, but problems can happen. They may cause a risk to the mother, baby, or both. Some of the more common childbirth problems include:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert O68 to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About O68Overview
Is O68 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does O68 group to?
When labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 998 (principal Diagnosis Invalid as Discharge Diagnosis), which carries a relative weight of 0. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is O68 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists O68 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2026. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 3 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
Who can O68 be reported for?
The Medicare Code Editor checks labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of O68?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance converts to ICD-9-CM 656.31 (fetal distress-delivered) and 656.81 (fet/plac prob NEC-deliv). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
