Is B20 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

Yes. B20 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.

Where does B20 sit in the tabular list?

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99), in the block Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease (B20).

What cannot be coded together with B20?

B20 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

B20

B20 — Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease

Billable / specific codeICD-10-CM

B20 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for human immunodeficiency virus [hiv] disease. 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.

asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection status (Z21)
exposure to HIV virus (Z20.6)
inconclusive serologic evidence of HIV (R75)

Code first

The underlying condition must be sequenced before this code.

Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, if applicable (O98.7-)

Use additional code

Add a secondary code to capture the detail described below.

code(s) to identify all manifestations of HIV infection

Includes

Conditions this code covers.

acquired immune deficiency syndrome [AIDS]
AIDS-related complex [ARC]
HIV infection, symptomatic

Other codes that can never be billed with B20

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at B20. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading B20 alone.

I88Nonspecific lymphadenitis
Z21Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection status
L04Acute lymphadenitis
B97.3Retrovirus as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
R75Inconclusive laboratory evidence of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]
D61.81Pancytopenia
D84.81Immunodeficiency due to conditions classified elsewhere
D89.89Other specified disorders involving the immune mechanism, not elsewhere classified

Risk adjustment

B20 risk-adjusts. Under the CMS-HCC V28 model it maps to this category:

HCC 1 HIV/AIDS0.301 RAF

Coefficient shown for the Community Non-dual Aged segment. A higher HCC in the same hierarchy will suppress this one, so capturing it does not always add score.

Medicare coverage

B20 is named in 73 Medicare coverage policies — 73 listing it as supporting medical necessity. Which of them applies to you depends on your Medicare contractor, and coverage genuinely differs by state.

A52466Nebulizers - Policy Article
A52466Nebulizers - Policy Article
A52466Nebulizers - Policy Article
A52466Nebulizers - Policy Article

How B20 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 B20.

AIDS(related complex)
ARC(AIDS-related complex)
HIV
Slim disease(in HIV infection)
Acquired›immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS)
Disease, diseased›human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)
Disease, diseased›slim(HIV)
Human›immunodeficiency virus(HIV) disease (infection)
Syndrome›HIV infection, acute
Dementia›in›human immunodeficiency virus disease(HIV)
Disease, diseased›viral, virus›human immunodeficiency(HIV)
Encephalitis›due to›human immunodeficiency virus disease(HIV)

Code history

B20 has not changed since FY2024 — no addition, revision or deletion across the three most recent ICD-10-CM releases.

Questions about B20

Is B20 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: Yes. B20 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
Where does B20 sit in the tabular list?: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99), in the block Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease (B20).
What cannot be coded together with B20?: B20 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.