Coding and coverage · ICD-10-CM

A38 Scarlet fever

Not billable (header)Chapter 1

Report one of the more specific codes below.

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Codes under this one

  • A38.0 Scarlet fever with otitis media
  • A38.1 Scarlet fever with myocarditis
  • A38.8 Scarlet fever with other complications
  • A38.9 Scarlet fever, uncomplicated

Instructional notes

Chapter 1

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
  • carrier or suspected carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)
  • certain localized infections - see body system-related chapters
  • infectious and parasitic diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O98.-)
  • infectious and parasitic diseases specific to the perinatal period (P35-P39)
  • influenza and other acute respiratory infections (J00-J22)
Use additional codeAdd a second code for the full picture.
  • code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)
Includes
  • diseases generally recognized as communicable or transmissible

This code

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
  • streptococcal sore throat (J02.0)
Includes
  • scarlatina

Chapter 1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases · A30-A49 Other bacterial diseases (A30-A49)

Source: ICD-10-CM FY 2027 code descriptions and tabular list (CMS and CDC National Center for Health Statistics), effective 2026-10-01 through 2027-09-30 · CMS ICD-10 files. HCC mapping: CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2027. As of 2026-11-04.

Coverage and payment depend on the claim details; confirm with the Medicare Administrative Contractor.