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A40.8 ICD-10-CM Code: Other streptococcal sepsis

A40.8 maps to CMS-HCC V28 2. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools

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Code lookupA40.8

FY 2026 Apr update / Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99) / Other bacterial diseases (A30-A49)

A40.8

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Other streptococcal sepsis

This code describes a serious bloodstream infection caused by streptococcal bacteria that doesn't fit into the more specific streptococcal sepsis categories. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the body's response to infection causes tissue damage and organ dysfunction.

Buddy the Bee presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Other streptococcal sepsis captures bloodstream infections caused by streptococcal species other than Group A, Group B, and Streptococcus pneumoniae — including Streptococcus anginosus group (milleri), Streptococcus mitis, and other viridans group streptococci.

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 2

Coefficient HCC 2: 0.500 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Historical

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

HCC 002

Code-level coefficient reference

ESRD/PACE

HCC 2

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

N/A

Not mapped

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for A40.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 2

Official
  • carrier or suspected carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)Inherited from A00-B99
  • infectious and parasitic diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O98.-)Inherited from A00-B99
  • infectious and parasitic diseases specific to the perinatal period (P35-P39)Inherited from A00-B99
  • influenza and other acute respiratory infections (J00-J22)Inherited from A00-B99

Includes

Official
  • diseases generally recognized as communicable or transmissibleInherited from A00-B99

Excludes 1

Official
  • certain localized infections - see body system-related chaptersInherited from A00-B99, A40
  • neonatal (P36.0-P36.1)Inherited from A00-B99, A40
  • puerperal sepsis (O85)Inherited from A00-B99, A40
  • sepsis due to Streptococcus, group D (A41.81)Inherited from A00-B99, A40

Code First

Official
  • , if applicable, postprocedural sepsis (T81.44-)Inherited from A40
  • sepsis due to central venous catheter (T80.211-)Inherited from A40
  • streptococcal sepsis during labor (O75.3)Inherited from A40
  • streptococcal sepsis following abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O03.37, O03.87, O04.87, O07.37, O08.82)Inherited from A40
  • streptococcal sepsis following immunization (T88.0-)Inherited from A40
  • streptococcal sepsis following infusion, transfusion or therapeutic injection (T80.22-, T80.29-)Inherited from A40

Use Additional

Official
  • code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)Inherited from A00-B99

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for A40.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Blood cultures identifying the specific streptococcal species (not Group A, B, or pneumoniae)
Documentation of sepsis criteria with identified streptococcal source
Source of infection (dental/oral source, intra-abdominal abscess, endocarditis)
Severity assessment and organ dysfunction documentation

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
Blood cultures identifying the specific streptococcal species (not Group A, B, or pneumoniae)
Documentation of sepsis criteria with identified streptococcal source
Source of infection (dental/oral source, intra-abdominal abscess, endocarditis)
Severity assessment and organ dysfunction documentation

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
Verify the microbiology report carefully — viridans group streptococci are often misidentified or reported generically, requiring clinical correlation
If the streptococcal species is not specified at all, use A40.9 (unspecified) rather than A40.8
Streptococcus anginosus group infections frequently have associated abscesses — code the abscess site separately
Always add R65.20/R65.21 when severe sepsis or septic shock is documented

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
A40.0 (Group A streptococcal sepsis), A40.1 (Group B), A40.3 (S. pneumoniae) — Use those specific codes when those organisms are identified; A40.8 is for all other streptococcal species
A40.9 (Streptococcal sepsis, unspecified) — Use A40.8 when the streptococcal species is known but falls outside groups A/B/pneumoniae
A41.89 (Other specified sepsis) — A40.8 is correct for streptococcal species; A41.89 is for non-streptococcal, non-staphylococcal organisms

Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →

Is A40.8 an HCC code?

Yes. A40.8 (Other streptococcal sepsis) maps to HCC 2, Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.500. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: A40.8 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 2, Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code
A40.8
Description
Other streptococcal sepsis
HCC (V28)
HCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock
RAF reference coefficient
0.500
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 2, Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock
0.500
ESRDHCC 2, Septicemia/Sepsis/Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock
Not separately weighted

These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.

Work A40.8 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for A40.8

For A40.8, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

  • MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
  • EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
  • AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
  • TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

A40.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other streptococcal sepsis. This code describes a serious bloodstream infection caused by streptococcal bacteria that doesn't fit into the more specific streptococcal sepsis categories. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the body's response to infection causes tissue damage and organ dysfunction. A40.8 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering other bacterial diseases (a30-a49).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, A40.8 maps to Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock (HCC 2) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.500. No V24 mapping is shown for A40.8; use the applicable model and payment year when reviewing the V28 mapping. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Use this code only when the streptococcal sepsis is not caused by Group A, Group B, Group D, or pneumococcal streptococci, as those have more specific codes (A40.0-A40.3). For A40.8, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for A40.8 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Use this code only when the streptococcal sepsis is not caused by Group A, Group B, Group D, or pneumococcal streptococci, as those have more specific codes (A40.0-A40.3)
  • Always code sepsis with the underlying infection source when documented, and ensure the principal diagnosis is clearly identified as sepsis rather than just the infection

Clinical Significance

Other streptococcal sepsis captures bloodstream infections caused by streptococcal species other than Group A, Group B, and Streptococcus pneumoniae — including Streptococcus anginosus group (milleri), Streptococcus mitis, and other viridans group streptococci. These organisms are frequently associated with deep-seated abscesses, endocarditis, and intra-abdominal infections.

Documentation Requirements

  • Blood cultures identifying the specific streptococcal species (not Group A, B, or pneumoniae)
  • Documentation of sepsis criteria with identified streptococcal source
  • Source of infection (dental/oral source, intra-abdominal abscess, endocarditis)
  • Severity assessment and organ dysfunction documentation
  • Species-level identification from microbiology to confirm appropriate code selection

Commonly Confused Codes

  • A40.0 (Group A streptococcal sepsis), A40.1 (Group B), A40.3 (S. pneumoniae): Use those specific codes when those organisms are identified; A40.8 is for all other streptococcal species
  • A40.9 (Streptococcal sepsis, unspecified): Use A40.8 when the streptococcal species is known but falls outside groups A/B/pneumoniae
  • A41.89 (Other specified sepsis): A40.8 is correct for streptococcal species; A41.89 is for non-streptococcal, non-staphylococcal organisms

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Also searched as

  • A40 8
  • A408

For A40.8, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

A40.8 maps to CMS-HCC V28 category 2, Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock. See the ICD-10 to HCC mapping hub for how the V28 crosswalk works. The mapping identifies a payment HCC category for A40.8. Review its source-labeled HCC coefficient above, check the RAF Calculator with complete member context for CMS-HCC V28 PY2026, and confirm the documentation the chart needs before the code is submitted. HCC Buddy shows no RAF score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Work A40.8 in HCC Buddy

Open A40.8 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 7 days to try everything, no card required.