2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code P57.9Kernicterus, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›P00–P96›P50-P61›P57

ICD-10-CM P57.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

P57.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for kernicterus, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as acute bilirubin encephalopathy. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Hemolytic jaundice and perinatal jaundice.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
P57.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Kernicterus, unspecified
Short Description
Kernicterus, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
P57
Kernicterus

Code Classification

ChapterP00–P96Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
SectionP50-P61Hemorrhagic and hematological disorders of newborn
CategoryP57Kernicterus
This CodeP57.9Kernicterus, unspecified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute bilirubin encephalopathy
  • Chronic bilirubin encephalopathy
  • Kernicterus of newborn

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.

    • Encephalopathia hyperbilirubinemica, newborn
    • Encephalopathy(acute)
      • hyperbilirubinemic, newborn
    • Jaundice(yellow)
      • nuclear, newborn
    • Kernicterus of newborn(not due to isoimmunization)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR PNL007
Hemolytic jaundice and perinatal jaundice
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Kernicterus

    a term used pathologically to describe bilirubin staining of the basal ganglia; brain stem; and cerebellum and clinically to describe a syndrome associated with hyperbilirubinemia. clinical features include athetosis, muscle spasticity or hypotonia, impaired vertical gaze, and deafness. nonconjugated bilirubin enters the brain and acts as a neurotoxin, often in association with conditions that impair the blood-brain barrier (e.g., sepsis). this condition occurs primarily in neonates (infant, newborn), but may rarely occur in adults. (menkes, textbook of child neurology, 5th ed, p613)

Patient EducationClinical

Jaundice

Jaundice causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow. Too much bilirubin causes jaundice. Bilirubin is a yellow chemical in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen in your red blood cells. As red blood cells break down, your body builds new cells to replace them. The old ones are processed by the liver.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert P57.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
774.7 NB kernicterus
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About P57.9Overview

Is P57.9 (Kernicterus) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report kernicterus, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of P57.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, kernicterus, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 774.7 (NB kernicterus). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.