CDC released the FY2026 ICD-10-CM
Key Statistics for FY 2026 Updates
-
New Codes: 487 for Diagnosis (CM) (billable) and 156 for Procedures (PCS).
-
Revised Codes: 38 (CM).
-
Deleted/Invalidated Codes: 28 (CM).
-
Guideline Changes: Major updates to HIV, diabetes remission, and social determinants of health (SDoH).
Major ICD-10-CM (Diagnosis) Changes -
These changes focus on increased specificity to support value-based care and population health tracking
-
Diabetes in Remission: A new code, E11.A, is used for Type 2 diabetes in remission. Official guidelines specify that providers must use the exact word "remission" for this code to be valid; terms like "resolved" are insufficient.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): The general code G35 is now a parent code and is no longer valid for billing. It has been replaced by more specific sub-codes that identify the phenotype (e.g., relapsing-remitting, primary progressive) and activity status.
- Social Determinants of Health (SDoH): Significant expansion of Z-codes (Z59 series) to capture non-clinical factors such as financial insecurity and difficulty paying for utilities.
- Anatomical Specificity:
- Flank Region: Over 100 new codes now distinguish injuries to the "flank" (e.g., S30.13-) from the general abdomen.
- Chronic Ulcers: Category L98 added over 100 codes to specify laterality, severity, and exact site (e.g., face, neck, groin) for non-pressure chronic ulcers.
- Emerging Conditions: New codes recognize Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (R11.16) and Gulf War Illness (T75.830).
Key Features:
-
Index of Drugs and Chemicals
- Index of Diseases and Injuries
- Index of External Causes of Injuries
- Index of Neoplasm
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are the U.S. governmental agencies responsible for overseeing all changes and modifications to the ICD-10-CM.
Highlights from the new 2026 ICD-10-CM codes
New ICD-10 codes for 2026: Non-pressure ulcers
Non-pressure ulcers leads the pack with over 100 new codes broken down to site and severity:
- L98.A1 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper arm
- L98.A11 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right upper arm
- L98.A116 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right upper arm with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
Updates to ICD-10 codes for injuries and poisoning
The largest concentration of codes affected Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning, and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes. The addition of the body site “flank” resulted in over 100 codes spanning injuries from laceration with/without foreign body to open bite.
- S31.127 Laceration with foreign body of abdominal wall, left flank without penetration into a peritoneal cavity
- S31.117 Laceration without foreign body of abdominal wall, left flank without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- S31.156 Open bite of abdominal wall, right flank without penetration into peritoneal cavity
- S31.656 Open bite of abdominal wall, right flank with penetration into peritoneal cavity
Chapter 19 also addresses new poisoning, toxic effect, anaphylactic reactions and effects of war codes.
- T36.Ax1 Poisoning by fluoroquinolone antibiotics, accidental (unintentional)
- T65.841 Toxic effect of xylazine, accidental (unintentional)
- T75.83 Effects of war theater
- T75.830 Gulf war illness
- T78.070 Anaphylactic reaction due to milk and dairy products with tolerance to baked milk
- T78.081 Anaphylactic reaction due to egg with reactivity to baked egg
New ICD-10 codes for neurodevelopmental disorders
One new section to come out in this release can be found in Chapter 17: Congenital Malformations, Deformations, and Chromosomal Abnormalities addressing neurodevelopmental disorders related to genetic pathogenic variants.
-
QA0 Neurodevelopmental disorders, related to specific genetic pathogenic variants
- QA0.010 Neurodevelopmental disorders, related to pathogenic variants in ion channel genes
- QA0.011 Neurodevelopmental disorders, related to pathogenic variants in glutamate receptor genes
- QA0.013 Neurodevelopmental disorders, related to pathogenic variants in other transporter and solute carrier genes
Updates to ICD-10 codes for diabetes
And lastly there is great news on the horizon. Out of the hundreds of codes with this release, probably the most notable and exciting is a single code found in Chapter 4: Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases. * E11.A – Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications in remission. Diabetes can now officially be documented as being in remission, classified by sustaining normal blood glucose levels for three months or more! While remission may have always been possible, it's likely becoming more common, and now there's a way to reflect this important clinical detail in the patient record.
The introduction of an ICD-10 classification for
**diabetes remission**- increasingly seen in patients treated with **GLP-1 medications**- requires updates to clinical systems. Clinical decision support rules will need revision because management guidelines for patients **in remission** may differ from those with **active diabetes**. In addition, population health and research cohorts must adjust their definitions to properly **include or exclude patients based on remission status**, ensuring accurate diabetes classification and reporting.