Thalassemia (D56) ICD-10-CM
The D56 code range covers thalassemia with 9 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 8 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- sickle-cell thalassemia D57.4
Codes in the D56 Range 9 codes · 8 billable
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the D56 range.
alpha-Thalassemia
A disorder characterized by reduced synthesis of the alpha chains of hemoglobin. The severity of this condition can vary from mild anemia to death, depending on the number of genes deleted.
beta-Thalassemia
A disorder characterized by reduced synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin. There is retardation of hemoglobin A synthesis in the heterozygous form (thalassemia minor), which is asymptomatic, while in the homozygous form (thalassemia major, Cooley's anemia, Mediterranean anemia, erythroblastic anemia), which can result in severe complications and even death, hemoglobin A synthesis is absent.
Delta-Beta Thalassemia
A form of beta thalassemia characterized by decreased or absent synthesis of both the delta- and beta-globin chains, which leads to a compensatory increase in fetal gamma-chain synthesis. This disorder results in a microcytic anemia that is clinically mild.
Thalassemia
A group of hereditary hemolytic anemias in which there is decreased synthesis of one or more hemoglobin polypeptide chains. There are several genetic types with clinical pictures ranging from barely detectable hematologic abnormality to severe and fatal anemia.
About the D56 Code Range
Thalassemia is a group of inherited anemias in which the body makes less of one or more parts of hemoglobin.
The subdivisions distinguish alpha (D56.0), beta (D56.1), and delta-beta thalassemia (D56.2). They also identify thalassemia minor (D56.3), hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (D56.4), and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia (D56.5). Separate codes cover other thalassemias (D56.8) and unspecified thalassemia (D56.9).
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the D56 range?
Of the 9 codes in this range, 8 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the D56 range classify?
The range classifies thalassemia. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
