A39.4

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

A serious bloodstream infection caused by meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) where the specific type or severity is not specified. This condition can lead to sepsis and requires immediate medical treatment with antibiotics.

Coding Tips

• •Use this code only when the documentation does not specify the type of meningococcemia (such as acute meningococcemia A39.2 or chronic meningococcemia A39.3); always review the clinical record to determine if a more specific code applies
• •This code indicates a systemic infection, so look for associated sepsis codes (R65.2x) or organ dysfunction codes that may need to be reported as secondary diagnoses

Clinical Significance

Meningococcemia, unspecified, captures Neisseria meningitidis bloodstream infection when the documentation does not specify whether the presentation is acute or chronic. While it maps to the same HCC as the specified forms, using this code represents a missed opportunity for clinical documentation precision.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Blood cultures or clinical evidence of Neisseria meningitidis in the bloodstream
• ✓Documentation of meningococcal infection without specifying acute or chronic course
• ✓Clinical presentation and severity assessment
• ✓Query the provider to determine acute vs. chronic whenever possible to achieve higher specificity
• ✓Serogroup and antibiotic sensitivity if available

Commonly Confused Codes