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It’s that time of year again when medical practices nationwide — and the billing companies that service them — begin to prepare for annual coding updates that take effect October 1. This year, as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 ICD-10-CM code update, practices will implement 487 completely new diagnosis codes.
An additional 38 codes aren’t new, but they include revisions that physicians and staff must understand. Also, a total of 28 codes will no longer be in use, so practices will need to stop reporting them entirely.
Of course, not all of these changes will affect every practice, but knowing which changes affect your specialty — or your client's specialty — will be critical. Read on for essential 2026 ICD-10-CM code changes.
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Why should physicians pay attention to the 2026 ICD-10 code changes?
Understanding new, revised, and deleted medical codes is critical because payers use these codes to determine payment. Incorrect codes can cause denied or delayed claims, underpayments, and/or overpayments. Even seemingly small coding errors can lead to significant revenue loss.
In addition, accurate and specific medical codes:
- Aid in compliance, legal protection, and audit defense
- Contribute to public health initiatives and population health management
- Promote accurate quality metrics
- Support medical necessity that prevents care delays and denials
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What are the new ICD-10-CM codes for FY 2026?
Here’s a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of new ICD-10-CM codes for FY 2026.
Chapter 1 (certain infectious and parasitic diseases)
Includes new codes for infestation of Demodex mites and infestation of other ascariasis.
Chapter 2 (neoplasms)
Includes new codes for malignant inflammatory neoplasm of the breast.
Chapter 3 (diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs)
Includes new codes for:
- Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
- Other functional disorders of polymorphonuclear neutrophils
- Functional disorders of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, unspecified
Chapter 4 (endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases)
Includes new codes for:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications in remission
- Primary and secondary hyperoxaluria
- Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Other disorders of mineral metabolism
- Lipodystrophy, not elsewhere classified
- Mitochondrial metabolism disorders
Chapter 6 (diseases of the nervous system)
Includes new codes for:
- Primary progressive apraxia of speech
- Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
- Primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
- Multiple sclerosis, unspecified
- Limb girdle muscular dystrophies
Chapter 7 (diseases of the eye and adnexa)
Includes new codes for:
- Other specified inflammations of eyelid
- Other disorders of orbit
- Neovascular secondary angle closure glaucoma
Chapter 9 (diseases of the circulatory system)
Includes new codes for Fontan related circulation.
Chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue)
Includes new codes for:
- Cutaneous abscess of flank
- Furuncle of flank
- Cellulitis of flank
- Acute lymphangitis of flank
- Non-pressure chronic ulcer abdomen, chest, neck, face, and groin
- Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified
- Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper arm
- Non-pressure chronic ulcer of forearm
- Non-pressure chronic ulcer of hand
Chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue)
Includes a new code for abnormal rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibody with rheumatoid arthritis.
Chapter 14 (diseases of the genitourinary system)
Includes new codes for:
- Acute nephritic syndrome with immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
- Nephrotic syndrome with immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
- Hereditary nephropathy, not elsewhere classified with APOL1-mediated kidney disease
Chapter 17 (congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities)
Includes new codes for:
- Hao-Fountain Syndrome
- CTNNB1 syndrome
- Kabuki syndrome
- other specified congenital malformations
- Usher syndrome
- Other specified chromosome abnormalities
- Genetic disorders, not elsewhere classified
- Neurodevelopmental disorders related to specific genetic pathogenic variants
- Neurodevelopmental disorders related to pathogenic variants in specific genes
- Neurodevelopmental disorders related to pathogenic variants in other specific genes
Chapter 18 (signs, symptoms, and abnormal findings)
Includes new codes for:
- Pelvic and perineal pain
- Abdominal pain of multiple sites
- Flank tenderness
- Pain localized to flank
- Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome
- Costovertebral (angle) tenderness
- Abnormal rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibody without rheumatoid arthritis
- Other specified abnormal immunological findings in serum
Chapter 19 (injuries, poisonings, and external causes)
Includes new codes for:
- Contusion of abdominal wall
- Contusion of groin
- Contusion of flank (latus) region
- Abrasion of flank
- Blister (nonthermal) of flank
- External constriction of flank
- Superficial foreign body of flank
- Insect bite (nonvenomous) of flank
- Other superficial bite of flank
- Unspecified superficial injury of flank
- Unspecified open wound of abdominal wall without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Laceration without foreign body of abdominal wall without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Laceration without foreign body of abdominal wall without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Puncture wound of abdominal wall without foreign body without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Puncture wound of abdominal wall with foreign body without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Open bite of abdominal wall without penetration into peritoneal cavity
New Chapter 19 codes (continued)
- Unspecified open wound of abdominal wall with penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Laceration without foreign body of abdominal wall with penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Laceration with foreign body of abdominal wall with penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Puncture wound without foreign body of abdominal wall with penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Puncture wound with foreign body of abdominal wall with penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Open bite of abdominal wall with penetration into peritoneal cavity
- Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of fluoroquinolone antibiotics
- Toxic effect of xylazine
- Effects of war theater
- Anaphylactic reaction due to milk and dairy products
- Anaphylactic reaction due to eggs
- Other adverse food reactions due to milk and dairy products
- Other adverse food reaction due to eggs
- Other adverse food reactions, not elsewhere classified
Chapter 20 (external causes of morbidity)
Includes new codes for:
- Other sharp object entering into or through a natural orifice
- Fishing hook entering through skin
- Blast overpressure in war operations
- Blast overpressure in military operations
- Other outdoor activity
Chapter 21 (factors influencing health status and contact with health services)
Includes new codes for:
- Genetic susceptibility to malignant neoplasm
- Genetic susceptibility to kidney disease
- Encounter for other prophylactic surgery
- Financial insecurity
- Contact with and (suspected) exposure to war theater
- Family history of malignant neoplasm of fallopian tube(s)
- Family history of disorders of kidney and ureter
- Family history of exposure to diethylstilbestrol
- Personal history of malignant neoplasm of fallopian tube(s)
- Personal history of in-situ neoplasm of the fallopian tube(s)
- Allergy to milk products
- Allergy to eggs
- Personal risk factor of exposure to diethylstilbestrol
We’ve compiled a quick reference guide of all new FY 2026 ICD-10-CM codes that you can download here.
“In FY 2026, there are 487 new codes, 38 revised codes, and 28 deleted codes.”
What are the deleted and revised ICD-10-CM codes for FY 2026?
ICD-10-CM code deletions and revisions typically occur to accommodate new coding specificity and code expansions. For example, ICD-10-CM code R10.2 (pelvic and perineal pain) was deleted to accommodate 5 new codes, 3 of which specify laterality.
Similarly, ICD-10-CM code L02.212 (cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock) was revised to ‘cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]’ because there is a new code for cutaneous abscess of flank (L02.217).
FAQs about the ICD-10 code changes for 2026
Here are the answers to several FAQs about the ICD-10-CM code changes for FY 2026.
How many ICD-10 code changes are there for 2026?
In FY 2026, there are 487 new codes, 38 revised codes, and 28 deleted codes.
Where can coders and others access the FY 2026 ICD-10-CM codes?
First, CMS provides several files on its ICD-10-CM website. Second, you can download the codes in the FY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule. Scroll down to the final rule tables. Then click on Table 6A for new diagnosis codes, Table 6C for invalid diagnosis codes, and Table 6E for revised diagnosis codes.
Note that these tables are not user-friendly. Refer to the links within this blog post for easy-to-read quick reference guides.
| Tebra’s ICD-10-CM glossary includes code descriptions, related codes, symptoms, instructional guidelines, and more. |
Which ICD-10-CM chapters have the most 2026 ICD-10-CM code changes?
The ICD-10-CM chapter with the most changes for FY 2026 is Chapter 19 (injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes). Chapter 19 includes:
- 213 additions
- 12 deletions
- 24 revisions
- 249 total changes
However, Chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue) also had a lot of changes, including 116 additions and 2 revisions.
“The ICD-10-CM chapter with the most changes for FY 2026 is Chapter 19.”
How can medical billing companies support their practice clients with the 2026 ICD-10-CM code changes?
Medical billing companies should coordinate with their clients to ensure they are aware of the new codes and which ones they may be using, and target training accordingly.
How do coders know what ICD-10-CM codes to report and when?
The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting provide specific details about when and how to report the codes. However, be sure to use the most up-to-date version for FY 2026.
Access coding guidelines for 2026 here. Pay attention to narrative changes that appear in bold text, including updated language for HIV sequencing, Type 2 diabetes in remission, coding conditions across multiple body sites, and other tabular note changes (new Code first, Use additional code, Excludes1/2, etc.).
What are some tips and strategies to implement the ICD-10-CM code changes for FY 2026?
Consider the following when implementing the ICD-10 2026 code changes:
Train your team
The 2026 ICD-10-CM code changes affect anyone who:
- Documents in the medical record (e.g., physicians and other providers)
- Assigns medical codes (e.g., medical coders)
- Queries clinical information (e.g., clinical documentation specialists)
- Uses coded data regularly (e.g., practice managers, other revenue cycle management staff, and health information technology professionals)
Role-based training ensures individuals can leverage new information to perform their jobs effectively. For example, physicians will need to understand new documentation requirements for expanded granularity associated with codes for lacerations, puncture wounds, allergies, and more.
Update systems
Ensure your EHR, coding tools, and reference libraries reflect the FY 2026 updates.
“Ensure your EHR, coding tools, and reference libraries reflect the FY 2026 updates.”
Communicate with payers
It’s also important to check with your payers to learn about any coverage-related changes. These include changes to prior authorizations as well as any new diagnosis-related documentation requirements.
Audit and refine
Perform pre-implementation audits, monitor key performance indicators during the 4th quarter of 2025, and provide education and training when necessary.
Looking ahead to FY 2026 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes
When the October 1, 2026, implementation deadline for the FY 2026 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes arrives, medical practices and billing companies that make sure to train coders, physicians, and others on these changes will help ensure clean claims and smooth cash flow.
Learn how Tebra's integrated EHR and medical billing software can streamline your practice's transition to the 2026 ICD-10-CM code changes with automated updates, built-in coding tools, and comprehensive revenue cycle management to help prevent claim denials and protect your bottom line. Book a free, personalized demo today.
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