2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T36.96XAUnderdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T36-T50›T36

ICD-10-CM T36.96XA
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

T36.96XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Underdosing of drugs and medicaments, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T36.96XA
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, initial encounter
Short Description
Underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, init encntr
Parent Code
T36.96
Underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT36-T50Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances
CategoryT36Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of systemic antibiotics
This CodeT36.96XAUnderdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, initial encounter

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for T36.96XA.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

Underdosing refers to taking less of a medication than is prescribed by a provider or a manufacturer's instruction. Codes for underdosing should never be assigned as principal or first-listed codes. If a patient has a relapse or exacerbation of the medical condition for which the drug is prescribed because of the reduction in dose, then the medical condition itself should be coded.

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of systemic antibiotics (T36). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR INJ029
Underdosing of drugs and medicaments, initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Table of Drugs and ChemicalsClinical

Substances in the Table of Drugs and Chemicals that reference this code family. Always confirm in the Tabular List before coding.

SubstanceAccidentalSelf-harmAssaultUndeter­minedAdverse
Effect		Under­dosing
Antibiotic NECT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::aminoglycosideT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::anticancerT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::antifungalT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::antimycobacterialT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::antineoplasticT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::cephalosporin (group)T36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::chloramphenicol (group)T36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::ENTT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::eyeT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::fungicidal (local)T36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::intestinalT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::b-lactam NECT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::localT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::macrolidesT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::polypeptideT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::specified NECT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::tetracycline (group)T36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96
Antibiotic NEC::throatT36.91T36.92T36.93T36.94T36.95T36.96

Patient EducationClinical

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

The full article covers:

  • What are antibiotics?
  • What do antibiotics treat?
  • Do antibiotics treat viral infections?
  • What are the side effects of antibiotics?
  • Why is it important to take antibiotics only when they're needed?
  • How do I use antibiotics correctly?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert T36.96XA to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
No Map There is no ICD-9 equivalent for this code.

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 T36.96XAOverview

Is T36.96XA (Underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic) a billable code?

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

What does the 7th character A in T36.96XA mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

Can T36.96XA be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because underdosing of unspecified systemic antibiotic, initial encounter describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

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.