A15-A19
Medium Complexity
Tuberculosis
Primary Specialty: Infectious Disease
Last Updated: 2025-09-09
ICD-10 Codes (53)
45 billable3 category headers
A17A17.0Billable
A17.1Billable
A17.8Billable
A17.81Billable
A17.82Billable
A17.83Billable
A17.89Billable
A17.9Billable
A18A18.0A18.01Billable
A18.02Billable
A18.03Billable
A18.09Billable
A18.1A18.10Billable
A18.11Billable
A18.12Billable
A18.13Billable
A18.14Billable
A18.15Billable
A18.16Billable
A18.17Billable
A18.18Billable
A18.2Billable
A18.3A18.31Billable
A18.32Billable
A18.39Billable
A18.4Billable
A18.5A18.50Billable
A18.51Billable
A18.52Billable
A18.53Billable
A18.54Billable
A18.59Billable
A18.6Billable
A18.7Billable
A18.8A18.81Billable
A18.82Billable
A18.83Billable
A18.84Billable
A18.85Billable
A18.89Billable
A19A19.0Billable
A19.1Billable
A19.2Billable
A19.8Billable
A19.9Billable
Updates & Changes
FY 2026 Updates
Current Year
New Codes (1)
A15.9
Respiratory tuberculosis unspecified, bacteriologically and histologically negative
Revised Codes (2)
A17.82
Tuberculous meningoencephalitis - updated to include diagnostic criteria
A19.1
Acute miliary tuberculosis of multiple sites - enhanced documentation requirements
Deleted Codes
No codes deleted in this range for FY 2026
Historical Changes
- •FY 2025: Enhanced specificity for drug-resistant tuberculosis coding
- •FY 2024: Updated guidelines for latent tuberculosis infection documentation
- •FY 2023: Added codes for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB)
Upcoming Changes
- •Proposed codes for novel tuberculosis drug resistance patterns
- •Under review: Enhanced coding for tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients
Implementation Guidance
- •Review all FY 2026 updates for A15-A19 codes before implementation
- •Always verify the most current codes in the ICD-10-CM manual
- •Ensure clinical documentation supports the selected diagnosis codes
- +3 more guidance items...
Range Overview
high priority
The ICD-10 code range A15-A19 is dedicated to various forms of tuberculosis. This includes respiratory tuberculosis, tuberculosis of the nervous system, miliary tuberculosis, and other forms of the disease. The codes in this range are used to document the specific type of tuberculosis, its site, and any associated complications.
Key Usage Points:
- •Always specify the type and location of tuberculosis.
- •Use additional codes to document any drug resistance.
- •For latent tuberculosis, use code Z11.1.
- •Use codes from this range for both active and inactive tuberculosis.
- •For tuberculosis in pregnancy, use O98.11-.
Coding Guidelines
When to Use:
- ✓When a patient has a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis.
- ✓When a patient has a history of tuberculosis that is affecting their current health status.
- ✓When a patient has a tuberculosis infection in a specific organ or system.
- ✓When a patient has miliary tuberculosis.
When NOT to Use:
- ✗When a patient has been exposed to tuberculosis but has not developed the disease.
- ✗When a patient has a positive skin or blood test for tuberculosis but no active disease.
- ✗When a patient has a non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection.
- ✗When a patient has a condition that is similar to tuberculosis but is caused by a different pathogen.
Code Exclusions
Always verify exclusions in the patient's medical record.
Documentation Requirements
Documentation for tuberculosis should include the type of tuberculosis, the site of the disease, any drug resistance, and the patient's treatment history. It should also include any associated complications or comorbidities.
Clinical Information:
- •Type of tuberculosis
- •Site of disease
- •Drug resistance
- •Treatment history
- •Associated complications or comorbidities
Supporting Evidence:
- •Lab reports
- •Imaging studies
- •Histopathology reports
- •Treatment records
Good Documentation Example:
Patient has a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis with resistance to isoniazid. Treatment with rifampin and ethambutol has been initiated.
Poor Documentation Example:
Patient has TB.
Common Documentation Errors:
- âš Not specifying the type of tuberculosis
- âš Not documenting the site of disease
- âš Not documenting drug resistance
- âš Not including treatment history
Range Statistics
4
Total Codes
45
Billable
Complexity:
Medium
Primary Use:Clinical Documentation
Chapter:1
Coding Complexity
Medium
Complexity Rating
Coding for tuberculosis can be complex due to the need to specify the type and site of the disease, any drug resistance, and the patient's treatment history. It also requires coding any associated complications or comorbidities.
Key Factors:
- â–¸Determining the type and site of tuberculosis
- â–¸Identifying any drug resistance
- â–¸Documenting the patient's treatment history
- â–¸Coding any associated complications or comorbidities
Specialty Focus
Tuberculosis codes are primarily used in infectious disease, pulmonology, and primary care. They may also be used in other specialties when a patient has a history of tuberculosis or a tuberculosis-related complication.
Primary Specialties:
Infectious Disease
40%
Pulmonology
30%
Primary Care
30%
Clinical Scenarios:
- • A patient with a cough and positive sputum smear for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- • A patient with a history of tuberculosis who is experiencing hemoptysis.
- • A patient with HIV and a positive tuberculosis skin test.
- • A patient with miliary tuberculosis on a chest x-ray.
- • A patient with a spinal mass and a positive tuberculosis culture.
Resources & References
The ICD-10 manual is the primary resource for coding tuberculosis. Additional resources include the CDC's guidelines on tuberculosis and the World Health Organization's International Standards for Tuberculosis Care.
Official Guidelines:
- ICD-10 manual
- CDC's guidelines on tuberculosis
- World Health Organization's International Standards for Tuberculosis Care
Clinical References:
- American Thoracic Society's Clinical Practice Guidelines
- Infectious Diseases Society of America's Practice Guidelines
Educational Materials:
- AAPC's ICD-10 training
- AHIMA's ICD-10 training
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a code from the A15-A19 range for a patient with a positive tuberculosis skin test but no active disease?
No, you should use code Z11.1 for a patient with a positive skin or blood test for tuberculosis but no active disease.