B18.8
BillableOther chronic viral hepatitis
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is B18.8 an HCC code?
Yes. B18.8 maps to Chronic Hepatitis under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Chronic Hepatitis under V24).
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
MEAT Criteria for B18.8
For B18.8 to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically — it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- 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
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed B18.8 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
B18.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other chronic viral hepatitis. A long-term viral liver infection caused by a hepatitis virus other than B or C. B18.8 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering viral hepatitis (b15-b19).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, B18.8 maps to Chronic Hepatitis (HCC 65) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.472. Under the older V24 model, B18.8 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.245 — V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
Use this code for chronic infections with hepatitis viruses not classified elsewhere. Because B18.8 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. 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, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for B18.8 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code for chronic infections with hepatitis viruses not classified elsewhere
- •Document the specific virus type identified in the medical record
Clinical Significance
Other chronic viral hepatitis captures chronic liver infections from hepatitis viruses other than B or C, such as hepatitis E (which can become chronic in immunocompromised patients) or other identified viral agents. These less common chronic hepatitides still carry significant liver disease risk and resource utilization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Specific viral agent identified in documentation (hepatitis E, etc.)
- ✓Chronicity confirmed (>6 months duration or provider statement)
- ✓Liver function tests and disease staging
- ✓Reason why more specific hepatitis codes (B18.0, B18.1, B18.2) do not apply
- ✓Immunological status if relevant (chronic hepatitis E often occurs in immunocompromised patients)