A53.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Latent syphilis, unspecified as early or late

A53.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for latent syphilis, unspecified as early or late. This code describes syphilis infection that is present in the body but shows no symptoms and has an unknown duration (whether it occurred recently or long ago). The person has tested positive for syphilis but has no active signs of the disease. A53.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission (a50-a64).

A53.0 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.

Use this code only when the duration of latent syphilis cannot be determined as early (less than 2 years) or late (2 years or more); if duration is known, use A53.11 (early latent) or A53.12 (late latent) instead.