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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

A36.3Cutaneous diphtheria

✓ Billable / specificCC — complication/comorbidity

A36.3 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for cutaneous diphtheria. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About A36.3

A36.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cutaneous diphtheria. It belongs to category A36 (diphtheria), block A30-A49 (other bacterial diseases) and chapter 1 (certain infectious and parasitic diseases). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within A36 (diphtheria), A36.3 is specifically for cutaneous diphtheria. Related codes cover pharyngeal diphtheria (A36.0), nasopharyngeal diphtheria (A36.1), laryngeal diphtheria (A36.2), other diphtheria (A36.8) and unspecified (A36.9).

The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of A36.3, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: erythrasma (L08.1).

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 606 (Minor Skin Disorders with MCC, relative weight 1.5728) and DRG 607 (Minor Skin Disorders without MCC, relative weight 0.8772), in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 032.85 (cutaneous diphtheria).

Coding notes

Excludes2Not included here — may be reported together if both conditions exist

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to A36.3.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases.

Alphabetic index entries

3 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to A36.3.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 032.85Cutaneous diphtheriaexact

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about A36.3

Is A36.3 billable?

Yes. A36.3 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can A36.3 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict A36.3 as a principal diagnosis.

Is A36.3 a CC or MCC?

A36.3 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.

What DRG does A36.3 group to?

A36.3 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 606 (Minor Skin Disorders with MCC) and MS-DRG 607 (Minor Skin Disorders without MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for A36.3?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map A36.3 to ICD-9-CM 032.85.