2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z38.69Other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z30-Z39›Z38

ICD-10-CM Z38.69
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z38.69 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 795. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to newborn patients (age 0) and exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as multiple delivery, all by cesarean section. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Liveborn.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z38.69
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean
Short Description
Other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z38.6
Other multiple liveborn infant, born in hospital

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ30-Z39Persons encountering health services in circumstances related to reproduction
CategoryZ38Liveborn infants according to place of birth and type of delivery
This CodeZ38.69Other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z38.69.

Perinatal / Newborn diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in perinatal / newborn cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The newborn code edits apply to patients age 0 years only; a subset of diagnoses which will only occur during the perinatal or newborn period of age 0 (e.g., tetanus neonatorum, health examination for newborn under 8 days old).

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z38.69 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Persons encountering health services in circumstances related to reproduction (Z30-Z39).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Multiple delivery, all by cesarean section

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z38.69: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 21. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 21 (Z00-Z99) Factors influencing health status and contact with health services applies to 1,425 codes
  • Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
  • (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
  • (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.

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

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR PNL001
Liveborn
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Cesarean Delivery

A cesarean delivery, also called a cesarean section or c-section, is surgery to deliver a baby. The baby is taken out through your abdomen (belly). In the United States, almost one in three babies are born this way. Some cesarean deliveries are planned.

The full article covers:

  • What is a cesarean delivery?
  • When is a cesarean delivery needed?
  • How is a cesarean delivery done?
  • What are the risks of a cesarean delivery?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z38.69 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V34.01 Oth mult lb-in hosp w cs
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
V35.01 Oth mult sb-in hosp w cs
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
V36.01 Mult lb/sb-in hosp w cs
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
V37.01 Mult birth NOS-hosp w cs
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 Z38.69Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean?

The ICD-10-CM code for other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean is Z38.69 (sometimes written as Z3869). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is Z38.69 (Other multiple liveborn infant, born in hospital) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does Z38.69 group to?

When other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 795 (normal Newborn), which carries a relative weight of 0.2022. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Who can Z38.69 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean against patient demographics: this code is intended for newborn patients (age 0). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

Is Z38.69 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for other multiple liveborn infant, delivered by cesarean on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Persons encountering health services in circumstances related to reproduction (Z30-Z39) range of the CMS exempt list.