Question 1

What is ICD-10 code A77.8?

Accepted Answer

A77.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Other spotted fevers. This code represents rare or less common types of spotted fever infections caused by bacteria transmitted through tick bites, which cause fever and characteristic skin rashes. These are serious infections that require prompt medical treatment with antibiotics. A77.8 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. A77.8 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 A77.8 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. A77.8 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 A77.8 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A77.8 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. A77.8 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

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for A77.8?

Accepted Answer

A77.8 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 model rewards A77.8 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting A77.8?

Accepted Answer

Use this code only when the specific type of spotted fever is not classifiable under the more common categories (Rocky Mountain spotted fever A77.0, Boutonneuse fever A77.1, etc.); always document the specific organism or fever type in the medical record Verify that the infection is confirmed or suspected as a spotted fever before coding; coordinate with the provider if the specific fever type is unclear, as more specific codes may be more appropriate for billing and epidemiological tracking

A77.8

Is A77.8 an HCC code?

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Open A77.8 in the Interactive Encoder