Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: Is there an ICD-10 code for the Zika virus in the 2017 update?

Maryland Subscriber

Answer: Yes, there is now a specific diagnosis code for Zika virus. When your provider has confirmed a case of the Zika virus, you’ll report A92.5 (Zika virus disease) to represent the condition. Prior to the release of this new code, you’d likely have chosen A92.8 (Other specified mosquito-borne viral fevers) for a positive Zika diagnosis.

This diagnosis code didn’t quite fit the Zika virus, however, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added A92.5 to its catalogue for 2017. With the arrival of A92.5, you needn’t worry about nebulous diagnosis coding for your Zika patients.

Remember: ICD-10 2017’s final list of new, updated, and deleted codes for 2017 were effective October 1, 2016 — not January 1, 2017. So if they haven’t already, practices need to get up to speed immediately on all the ICD-10 revisions, additions, and deletions relevant to their specialties.