2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O76Abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery

ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O60-O77›O76

ICD-10-CM O76
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

O76 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 998. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Coders also document this condition as labor and delivery complicated by fetal heart rate anomaly. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complications specified during childbirth.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
O76
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery
Short Description
Abnlt in fetal heart rate and rhythm comp labor and delivery
Chapter
O60-O77
Complications of labor and delivery

Code Classification

ChapterO00-O9APregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
SectionO60-O77Complications of labor and delivery
CategoryO76Abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery
This CodeO76Abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O76.

The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in maternity cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The maternity code edits apply to patients age ange is 9–64 years inclusive (e.g., diabetes in pregnancy, antepartum pulmonary complication).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Labor and delivery complicated by fetal heart rate anomaly
  • Labor and delivery complicated by fetal heart rate anomaly with meconium in amniotic fluid

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to O76: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 15. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Depressed fetal heart rate tones complicating labor and delivery
  • Fetal bradycardia complicating labor and delivery
  • Fetal heart rate decelerations complicating labor and delivery
  • Fetal heart rate irregularity complicating labor and delivery
  • Fetal heart rate abnormal variability complicating labor and delivery
  • Fetal tachycardia complicating labor and delivery
  • Non-reassuring fetal heart rate or rhythm complicating labor and delivery

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

On O76 itself
  • 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)
From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • supervision of normal pregnancy (Z34.-)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

On O76 itself
From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium (F53.-)
  • obstetrical tetanus (A34)
  • postpartum necrosis of pituitary gland (E23.0)
  • puerperal osteomalacia (M83.0)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • code, if applicable, from category Z3A, Weeks of gestation, to identify the specific week of the pregnancy, if known.

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • CODES FROM THIS CHAPTER ARE FOR USE ONLY ON MATERNAL RECORDS, NEVER ON NEWBORN RECORDS
  • Codes from this chapter are for use for conditions related to or aggravated by the pregnancy, childbirth, or by the puerperium (maternal causes or obstetric causes)
  • Trimesters are counted from the first day of the last menstrual period. They are defined as follows:
  • 1st trimester- less than 14 weeks 0 days
  • 2nd trimester- 14 weeks 0 days to less than 28 weeks 0 days
  • 3rd trimester- 28 weeks 0 days until delivery

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name O76, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming O76: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • O77.8 Labor and delivery complicated by other evidence of fetal stress
    abnormality in fetal heart rate or rhythm (O76)
  • O77.9 Labor and delivery complicated by fetal stress, unspecified
    abnormality in fetal heart rate or rhythm (O76)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming O76: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • O68 Labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance
    abnormality in fetal heart rate or rhythm (O76)

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR PRG023
Complications specified during childbirth
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

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 O76 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
659.71 Abn ftl hrt rate/rhy-del
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About O76Overview

Is O76 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does O76 group to?

When abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery 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.

Who can O76 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

Can O76 be reported with O77.9?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on O76 lists "fetal stress NOS (O77.9)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of O76?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery converts to ICD-9-CM 659.71 (abn ftl hrt rate/rhy-del). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.