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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

R78.89Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood

✓ Billable / specific

R78.89 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Finding of oth substances, not normally found in blood

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 R78.89

R78.89 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood. It belongs to category R78 (findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood), block R70-R79 (abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis) and chapter 18 (symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within R78.8, choose R78.89 (Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: Bacteremia (R78.81).

Use an additional code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 947 (Signs and Symptoms with MCC, relative weight 1.261) and DRG 948 (Signs and Symptoms without MCC, relative weight 0.7835), in MDC 23 (Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services), 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 790.6 (other abnormal blood chemistry) and 790.99 (other nonspecific findings on examination of blood).

Coding notes

Applicable toConditions and synonyms classified to this code
  • Finding of abnormal level of lithium in blood

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to R78.89.

› From R78 Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
Excludes2
  • mental or behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19)
Use additional code
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Broader instructions also apply from R70-R79 Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis and Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.

Alphabetic index entries

3 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to R78.89.

Codes whose notes reference R78.89

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 23 · Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 790.6Other abnormal blood chemistryapproximate
  • 790.99Other nonspecific findings on examination of bloodapproximate

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 R78.89

Is R78.89 billable?

Yes. R78.89 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can R78.89 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict R78.89 as a principal diagnosis.

Is R78.89 a CC or MCC?

No. R78.89 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does R78.89 group to?

R78.89 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 947 (Signs and Symptoms with MCC) and MS-DRG 948 (Signs and Symptoms 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 R78.89?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map R78.89 to ICD-9-CM 790.6 and 790.99.