A86 Unspecified viral encephalitis

✓ Billable ICD-10-CM 2026
Open A86 in Web App →

The ICD-10-CM code for Unspecified viral encephalitis is A86 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Section
A80-A89: Viral and prion infections of the central nervous system (A80-A89)
Category A86
1 code (1 billable)
FY2026 Status
Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to A86:

  • Encephalitis (chronic) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (nonepidemic) (spurious) (subacute) › postviral NEC
  • Encephalitis (chronic) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (nonepidemic) (spurious) (subacute) › viral, virus
  • Encephalitis (chronic) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (nonepidemic) (spurious) (subacute) › endemic (viral)
  • Encephalitis (chronic) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (nonepidemic) (spurious) (subacute) › acute
  • Encephalitis (chronic) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (nonepidemic) (spurious) (subacute) › epidemic NEC (viral)
  • Meningoencephalitis › infectious (acute) (viral)
  • Encephalitis (chronic) (hemorrhagic) (idiopathic) (nonepidemic) (spurious) (subacute) › infectious (acute) (virus) NEC
  • Meningoencephalitis › acute NEC

Inclusion Terms

  • Viral encephalomyelitis NOS
  • Viral meningoencephalitis NOS

U.S. Hospital Utilization

  • An estimated 3,220 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included A86 among the documented diagnoses.
  • 1,300 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

HIV Infections (TOC entry)

a. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections .............................................................. 19

— ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026, Section I.C.1.a
Infectious agents causing diseases in other chapters (TOC)

b. Infectious agents as the cause of diseases classified to other chapters ................................. 22

— ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026, Section I.C.1.b

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

Search all 70,000+ ICD-10-CM codes →
Reviewed by Prajwal Shrestha, CPC, CRC
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) · AAPC Member ID 01997614 · About · Editorial policy · Content last reviewed: 2025-10-01

Get HCC Mappings, Clinical Summaries, and More

Access premium features including HCC risk adjustment, FDA drug indications, AI coding assistant, and comprehensive clinical context.

Start Free Trial