Question 1

What is ICD-10 code O76?

Accepted Answer

O76 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery. An abnormal heartbeat pattern in the baby detected during labor and delivery, which may indicate fetal distress or other concerns. O76 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (o00-o9a), within the section covering complications of labor and delivery (o60-o77).

O76 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.

Document the specific abnormality (bradycardia, tachycardia, variable decelerations) when available from fetal monitoring strips.

Question 2

Is O76 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. O76 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 O76 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. O76 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. O76 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 O76?

Accepted Answer

O76 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 O76 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 O76?

Accepted Answer

Document the specific abnormality (bradycardia, tachycardia, variable decelerations) when available from fetal monitoring strips Link this code with any interventions performed in response to the abnormal heart rate

O76

Is O76 an HCC code?

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately

Code Hierarchy

Open O76 in the Interactive Encoder