2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R78.0Finding of alcohol in blood

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R70-R79›R78

ICD-10-CM R78.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R78.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for finding of alcohol in blood. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 894 through 897. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abnormal findings related to substance use.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R78.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Finding of alcohol in blood
Short Description
Finding of alcohol in blood
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R78
Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR70-R79Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
CategoryR78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
This CodeR78.0Finding of alcohol in blood

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Finding of alcohol in blood
  • High alcohol level in blood
  • High ethanol level in blood

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Use Additional Code

  • external cause code Y90

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.

    • Excess, excessive, excessively
      • alcohol level in blood
    • Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis
      • alcohol in blood
    • Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis
      • in blood (of substance not normally found in blood)
        • alcohol (excessive level)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM009
Abnormal findings related to substance use
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Alcohol

Many Americans drink alcohol at least occasionally. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans say that adults of legal drinking age should either not drink or drink in moderation. Drinking less is better for your health than drinking more. Also, there are some people who should not drink at all.

The full article covers:

  • How does alcohol affect the body?
  • Why are the effects of alcohol different from person to person?
  • What is moderate drinking?
  • What is a standard drink?
  • Who should not drink alcohol?
  • What is excessive drinking?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R78.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
790.3 Excess blood-alcohol lev
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 R78.0Overview

Is R78.0 a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R78.0 group to?

When finding of alcohol in blood is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 894, 895, 896, 897, with relative weights from 0.6169 to 1.7451 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R78.0 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the finding of alcohol in blood is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R78.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, finding of alcohol in blood converts to ICD-9-CM 790.3 (excess blood-alcohol lev). 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.