2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T38.806AUnderdosing of unspecified hormones and synthetic substitutes, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T36-T50›T38

ICD-10-CM T38.806A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

T38.806A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for underdosing of unspecified hormones and synthetic substitutes, 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
T38.806A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Underdosing of unspecified hormones and synthetic substitutes, initial encounter
Short Description
Underdosing of unsp hormones and synthetic substitutes, init
Parent Code
T38.806
Underdosing of unspecified hormones and synthetic substitutes

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
CategoryT38Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of hormones and their synthetic substitutes and antagonists, not elsewhere classified
This CodeT38.806AUnderdosing of unspecified hormones and synthetic substitutes, initial encounter

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for T38.806A.

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 hormones and their synthetic substitutes and antagonists, not elsewhere classified (T38). 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
HormoneT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::adrenal cortical steroidsT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::androgenicT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::anterior pituitary NECT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::antidiabetic agentsT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::antidiureticT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::cancer therapyT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::follicle stimulatingT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::gonadotropicT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::gonadotropic::pituitaryT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::growthT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::luteinizingT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::ovarianT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::oxytocicT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::parathyroid (derivatives)T38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::pituitary (posterior) NECT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::pituitary (posterior) NEC::anteriorT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::specified, NECT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806
Hormone::thyroidT38.801T38.802T38.803T38.804T38.805T38.806

Patient EducationClinical

Hormones

Hormones are your body's chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs. They work slowly, over time, and affect many different processes, including:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert T38.806A 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 T38.806AOverview

Is T38.806A a billable code?

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

What does the 7th character A in T38.806A mean?

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

Can T38.806A be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because underdosing of unspecified hormones and synthetic substitutes, 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.