Is A53.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

Yes. A53.9 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.

Where does A53.9 sit in the tabular list?

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99), in the block Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission (A50-A64).

What cannot be coded together with A53.9?

A53.9 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

A53.9

A53.9 — Syphilis, unspecified

Billable / specific codeICD-10-CM

A53.9 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for syphilis, unspecified. It is valid for submission on a claim.

Excludes1 — never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

syphilis NOS under two years of age (A50.2)

Inclusion terms

Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.

Infection due to Treponema pallidum NOS
Syphilis (acquired) NOS

Risk adjustment

A53.9 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

How A53.9 is indexed

Coders do not find codes by browsing the tabular list — they look them up in the alphabetic index, under the word the physician wrote. These are the index entries that lead here, so you can see which chart wordings map to A53.9.

Syphilis, syphilitic(acquired)
Syphilis, syphilitic›conjugal
Syphilis, syphilitic›due to blood transfusion
Syphilis, syphilitic›general
Syphilis, syphilitic›organic
Positive›VDRL›with signs or symptoms - code by site and stage under Syphilis

Related codes at this level

Codes that share A53. If A53.9 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

A53.0Latent syphilis, unspecified as early or late

Questions about A53.9

Is A53.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: Yes. A53.9 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
Where does A53.9 sit in the tabular list?: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99), in the block Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission (A50-A64).
What cannot be coded together with A53.9?: A53.9 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.