B17.9 Acute viral hepatitis, unspecified

The ICD-10-CM code for Acute viral hepatitis, unspecified is B17.9 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)

Section

B15-B19: Viral hepatitis (B15-B19)

Category B17

8 codes (6 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to B17.9:

• Hepatitis › acute
• Hepatitis › acute › infectious
• Hepatitis › viral, virus › acute
• Hepatitis › acute › viral (see also, Hepatitis, viral)
• Hepatitis › infectious, infective › acute (subacute)

Inclusion Terms

• Acute hepatitis NOS
• Acute infectious hepatitis NOS

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 15,360 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included B17.9 among the documented diagnoses.
• 2,465 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

Infectious agents causing diseases in other chapters (TOC)

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

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

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)