Question 1

What is ICD-10 code A44.9?

Accepted Answer

A44.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Bartonellosis, unspecified. Bartonellosis is a bacterial infection caused by Bartonella organisms that can affect the skin, blood vessels, and other organs. This code is used when the specific type or manifestation of bartonellosis cannot be determined or is not documented. A44.9 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. A44.9 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Question 2

Is A44.9 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. A44.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is A44.9 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A44.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. A44.9 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Question 4

Which HCC does A44.9 map to under V28?

Accepted Answer

A44.9 does not map to a CMS-HCC V28 payment category. Check the current CMS-HCC V28 model file for payment year 2026 rather than an older V24 tip sheet.

Question 5

What does A44.9 pay in RAF?

Accepted Answer

A44.9 has no separately stated V28 community RAF weight. If it is not a V28 payment HCC, it adds nothing to a community RAF score.

Question 6

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for A44.9?

Accepted Answer

A44.9 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither community model rewards A44.9 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's V28/V24 community RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a community payment HCC.

Question 7

What documentation supports A44.9?

Accepted Answer

Query the provider if additional documentation is available to specify the type of bartonellosis (such as cat scratch disease, Oroya fever, or verruga peruana), as this would allow for a more specific code assignment Verify whether the infection is associated with a specific exposure (such as cat scratches or flea bites) or geographic location, as this information may help clarify the diagnosis and support appropriate code selection A44.9 is not a CMS-HCC payment code, so MEAT is not the payment hook. Documentation still has to support the diagnosis if you report it.

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A44.9

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A44.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Bartonellosis, unspecified

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A44.9

Is A44.9 an HCC code?

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