A15.6 ICD-10-CM Code: Tuberculous pleurisy
HCC Buddy Code Card
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FY 2026 Apr update / Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99) / Tuberculosis (A15-A19)
A15.6
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceTuberculous pleurisy
Tuberculous pleurisy is an infection of the membrane surrounding the lungs (pleura) caused by tuberculosis bacteria, which causes inflammation and fluid buildup around the lungs. This condition makes it painful to breathe and can cause chest pain and cough.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
00
RAF 0
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
00
RAF 0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Tuberculosis of pleura Tuberculous empyema
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for A15.6 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for A15.6 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
Official- primary respiratory tuberculosis (A15.7)
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for A15.6 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for A15.6 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for A15.6 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is A15.6 an HCC code?
No. A15.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.
Coder workflow notes
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This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).
What This Code Means
A15.6 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tuberculous pleurisy. Tuberculous pleurisy is an infection of the membrane surrounding the lungs (pleura) caused by tuberculosis bacteria, which causes inflammation and fluid buildup around the lungs. This condition makes it painful to breathe and can cause chest pain and cough. A15.6 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering tuberculosis (a15-a19).
A15.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.
Verify that tuberculosis of the pleura is confirmed through clinical documentation, imaging, or laboratory findings before assigning this code.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for A15.6 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify that tuberculosis of the pleura is confirmed through clinical documentation, imaging, or laboratory findings before assigning this code
- •Do not use this code for non-tuberculous pleurisy; ensure the pleurisy is specifically attributed to TB infection
Excludes 1, Do NOT code together
- primary respiratory tuberculosis (A15.7)