The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the FY 2026 ICD-10-CM code updates, effective October 1, 2025. It’s a substantial release: more than 550 diagnosis code changes, including 487 additions, 28 deletions, and 38 revisions. Physicians, coding leaders, clinical documentation integrity (CDI) teams, and documentation specialists must ensure that medical records are detailed enough to support the use of these codes. This collaborative effort is essential for accurate coding, billing, and reporting.
Why the FY 2026 Updates Matter
ICD-10-CM codes are the backbone of medical documentation, influencing everything from billing to public health reporting. The FY 2026 updates reflect advancements in medical knowledge, the need for greater specificity in disease tracking, and the importance of addressing social determinants of health. For example, new codes for genetic susceptibility to diseases, financial insecurity, and food allergies highlight the growing recognition of factors influencing health outcomes beyond traditional medical diagnoses.
What’s New: Highlights Across Select Chapters
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Chapter 1: Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (A00–B99)
Two new codes for acariasis (B88.0-) were added, capturing mite infestations like Demodex dermatitis and chigger bites. These updates emphasize the importance of documenting secondary conditions, such as eyelid inflammation, to provide a comprehensive view of patient health.
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Chapter 2: Neoplasms (C00–D49)
Three new codes (C50.A-) for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) allow for better identification and tracking of this aggressive form of breast cancer. These codes specify laterality and hormone receptor status, enabling earlier intervention and improved treatment outcomes.
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Chapter 3: Blood and Immune Mechanism (D50–D89)
New D71.- codes for functional disorders of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, improving capture of rare immunologic conditions and associated utilization.
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Chapter 4: Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases (E00–E89)
A notable addition is code E11.A for type 2 diabetes mellitus in remission, reflecting the growing focus on remission as a therapeutic goal. Additionally, new codes for hyperoxaluria and lipodystrophy provide greater granularity in documenting rare metabolic disorders.
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Chapter 6: Nervous System Diseases (G00–G99)
Eight new codes for multiple sclerosis (MS) distinguish between different disease phenotypes, such as relapsing-remitting and progressive forms. This change supports better tracking of disease progression and treatment outcomes.
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Chapter: Eye and Adnexa Diseases (H00-H59)
Seventeen new codes address conditions like Demodex blepharitis and neovascular secondary angle closure glaucoma, enhancing specificity for eye-related diseases and complications.
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Chapter 9: Circulatory System Diseases (I00–I99)
Four codes (I27.840–I27.849) for Fontan circulation and associated conditions. Hypertension with heart disease guideline language aligns with the new structure.
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Chapter 12: Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Diseases (L00–L99)
The addition of 112 codes for non-pressure chronic ulcers highlights the need for detailed documentation of ulcer severity and location. These updates aim to improve care for patients with slow-healing skin sores caused by underlying conditions like diabetes or poor circulation.
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Chapter 14: Genitourinary System Diseases (N00-N99)
New codes for immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and hereditary nephropathy improve documentation for kidney-related conditions, including APOL1-mediated kidney disease.
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Chapter 17: Congenital Malformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
Twenty-three new codes include updates for Usher syndrome and neurodevelopmental disorders related to genetic pathogenic variants, supporting better tracking of hereditary and developmental conditions.
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Chapter 18: Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings (R00–R99)
Eight new codes for flank pain and tenderness (R10.8A-, R10.A-), improving anatomic specificity that can influence workups and utilization tracking.
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Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning, and External Causes (S00-T88)
New codes for flank and abdominal wall injuries, as well as anaphylactic reactions to baked milk and eggs, enhance precision in documenting injuries and food-related adverse effects.
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Chapter 21: Factors Influencing Health Status (Z00–Z99)
New Z codes address genetic susceptibility to diseases, financial insecurity, and personal history of food allergies. These codes underscore the importance of social determinants of health in patient care and public health reporting.
Chapter-By-Chapter Resource
From addressing social determinants of health to improving disease tracking, these FY 2026 ICD-10-CM changes have far-reaching implications for patient care and public health. Medical coding professionals, physicians, and documentation specialists have a responsibility to stay informed about these updates.
To ensure accurate applications of the changes, invest in education and training, enhance documentation, update technological frameworks, and measure the impact. For detailed explanations, tabular notes, real-world examples, and operational checklists, download our ebook, FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Guideline and Code Update Highlights, and watch our webinar, FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Code and Guideline Master Class.
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