A82.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Rabies, unspecified

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for A82.9 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on A82.9 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for A82.9

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code A82.9

1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, A82.9 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   ReviewA82.0, A82.1

   See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with A82.9. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — A82.9 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.

   ReviewA82.0, A82.1

2. Does the documentation support a condition named in A82.9’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewG14, B91, B94.1

Consider A82.9. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting A82.9(3 notes)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with A82.9: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareG14, B91, B94.1

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (2)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

• Rabies
• St. Hubert's disease

Don’t confuse A82.9 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of A82.9 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• G14— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of postpolio syndrome moves the case to G14; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: A82.9 vs G14 →

• B91— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of sequelae of poliomyelitis moves the case to B91; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: A82.9 vs B91 →

• B94.1— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of sequelae of viral encephalitis moves the case to B94.1; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: A82.9 vs B94.1 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 3 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 023 (MDC 01), DRG 024 (MDC 01), DRG 097 (MDC 01), DRG 098 (MDC 01), DRG 099 (MDC 01).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):NVS003 — Other specified CNS infection and poliomyelitis (default); INF008 — Viral infection.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

A82.0 — Sylvatic rabies, A82.1 — Urban rabies

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Other specified CNS infection and poliomyelitis, Viral infection).

A80.30 — Acute paralytic poliomyelitis, unspecified, A80.39 — Other acute paralytic poliomyelitis, A80.4 — Acute nonparalytic poliomyelitis, A80.9 — Acute poliomyelitis, unspecified, A81.00 — Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, unspecified, A81.01 — Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, A81.09 — Other Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, A81.2 — Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, A81.81 — Kuru, A81.82 — Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, A81.83 — Fatal familial insomnia, A81.89 — Other atypical virus infections of central nervous system, A81.9 — Atypical virus infection of central nervous system, unspecified, A82.0 — Sylvatic rabies, A82.1 — Urban rabies, A88.0 — Enteroviral exanthematous fever [Boston exanthem], A88.1 — Epidemic vertigo, A88.8 — Other specified viral infections of central nervous system, A89 — Unspecified viral infection of central nervous system, G14 — Postpolio syndrome, +297 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Rabies”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

Z20.3 — Contact with and (suspected) exposure to rabies

Contextual Map

Every relationship of A82.9 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

• A00-B99 — Chapter 1: Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (A00-B99) (A00-B99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• A80-A89 — Viral and prion infections of the central nervous system[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• NVS003 — Other specified CNS infection and poliomyelitis[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)
• INF008 — Viral infection[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix C) · FY2026
• DRG 023 — CRANIOTOMY WITH MAJOR DEVICE IMPLANT OR ACUTE COMPLEX CNS PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH MCC OR ANTINEOPLASTIC IMPLANT OR EPILEPSY WITH NEUROSTIMULATOR[MS-DRG]: “CRANIOTOMY WITH MAJOR DEVICE IMPLANT OR ACUTE COMPLEX CNS PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH MCC OR ANTINEOPLASTIC IMPLANT OR EPILEPSY WITH NEUROSTIMULATOR (MDC 01)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 024 — CRANIOTOMY WITH MAJOR DEVICE IMPLANT OR ACUTE COMPLEX CNS PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT MCC[MS-DRG]: “CRANIOTOMY WITH MAJOR DEVICE IMPLANT OR ACUTE COMPLEX CNS PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 01)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 097 — NON-BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM EXCEPT VIRAL MENINGITIS WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “NON-BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM EXCEPT VIRAL MENINGITIS WITH MCC (MDC 01)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 098 — NON-BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM EXCEPT VIRAL MENINGITIS WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “NON-BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM EXCEPT VIRAL MENINGITIS WITH CC (MDC 01)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 099 — NON-BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM EXCEPT VIRAL MENINGITIS WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “NON-BACTERIAL INFECTION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM EXCEPT VIRAL MENINGITIS WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 01)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 01 — Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 8,892 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Rabies[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• St. Hubert's disease[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes

• A82 — Rabies[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• A82.0 — Sylvatic rabies[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• A82.1 — Urban rabies[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to A82.9 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• A82 — Rabies
• A82.0 — Sylvatic rabies
• A82.1 — Urban rabies

View all codes in the A82 family