A20.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Bubonic plague
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FY 2026 Apr update / Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99) / Certain zoonotic bacterial diseases (A20-A28)
A20.0
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceBubonic plague
Bubonic plague is a serious bacterial infection spread by infected fleas, characterized by swollen and painful lymph nodes (buboes) typically in the groin, armpits, or neck. It is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease that requires immediate medical treatment with antibiotics.
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
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for A20.0 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for A20.0 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
Official- infection due to Yersinia pestis
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for A20.0 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for A20.0 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for A20.0 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for A20.0 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 A20.0 an HCC code?
No. A20.0 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
A20.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for bubonic plague. Bubonic plague is a serious bacterial infection spread by infected fleas, characterized by swollen and painful lymph nodes (buboes) typically in the groin, armpits, or neck. It is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease that requires immediate medical treatment with antibiotics. A20.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering certain zoonotic bacterial diseases (a20-a28).
A20.0 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.
Bubonic plague (A20.0) is the most common form of plague; ensure you are not confusing it with septicemic plague (A20.7) or pneumonic plague (A20.2), which have different transmission routes and clinical presentations.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for A20.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Bubonic plague (A20.0) is the most common form of plague; ensure you are not confusing it with septicemic plague (A20.7) or pneumonic plague (A20.2), which have different transmission routes and clinical presentations
- •This is a reportable disease in most jurisdictions; verify that appropriate public health notifications have been documented in the medical record before finalizing the code