The viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes live in one tight block, B15 through B19, yet they trip up coders more than almost any other infectious range. The reason is specificity. To land the right code, you have to read the chart for three things at once: the type of hepatitis (A, B, C, D, or E), whether it is acute or chronic, and two clinical details that quietly change the code, the delta-agent and hepatic coma. Miss any one and the claim either downgrades to unspecified or denies outright.
This guide maps the whole B15-B19 block, walks through each hepatitis type, and shows exactly how those two details reshape your code choice. First, the big picture.
Key takeaways
- The viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes run from B15 (acute hepatitis A) to B19 (unspecified viral hepatitis).
- Acute versus chronic is the first fork: B15 to B17 are acute, B18 is chronic, and B19 is unspecified.
- For hepatitis B, the delta-agent (hepatitis D coinfection) and hepatic coma both change the fourth or fifth character.
- Hepatitis C sits at B17.1- when acute and B18.2 when chronic.
- Reach for B19 only when the type truly is not documented.
What are the viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes?
The B15-B19 block sits inside Chapter 1, the chapter for infectious and parasitic diseases (A00 to B99). Every code describes an inflammation of the liver caused by a hepatitis virus. Because the codes stack detail through their fourth and fifth characters, it helps to know how the code is built first. Our primer on how ICD-10 codes are structured covers that anatomy if you need it.
The block at a glance
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| B15 | Acute hepatitis A |
| B16 | Acute hepatitis B (with or without delta-agent, with or without coma) |
| B17 | Other acute viral hepatitis, including acute hepatitis C (B17.1-) and E (B17.2) |
| B18 | Chronic viral hepatitis (B, C, and delta coinfection) |
| B19 | Unspecified viral hepatitis |
Acute or chronic? The first fork in the road
Before you touch a subcode, settle one question: is the hepatitis acute or chronic? Acute means a new, short-term infection, and it maps to B15, B16, or B17. Chronic means a long-standing infection, generally documented as lasting longer than six months, and it maps to B18. Consequently, the same virus lands in a different category depending on this single word in the note. Chronic hepatitis B, for instance, is B18.0 or B18.1, while acute hepatitis B is a B16 code.
Two details that quietly change the code
Within the viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes, two clinical facts do most of the damage when coders overlook them.
The delta-agent (hepatitis D)
Hepatitis D, the delta-agent, only infects people who already carry hepatitis B. As a result, the code set folds it into the hepatitis B codes rather than giving it a standalone category. So B16.0 and B16.1 describe acute hepatitis B with delta-agent, and B18.0 describes chronic hepatitis B with delta-agent. Meanwhile, B17.0 captures an acute delta superinfection in a known hepatitis B carrier. Always check the note for the word “delta” before you finalize a hepatitis B code.
Hepatic coma
Hepatic coma, also called hepatic encephalopathy in this context, bumps the code to a more severe subcode. For example, B15.0 is hepatitis A with hepatic coma, while B15.9 is hepatitis A without it. The same with-or-without split runs through B16, B17, and B19. Because this detail affects severity and reimbursement, confirm coma status in the documentation rather than assuming its absence.
Coding each hepatitis type
Hepatitis A (B15)
Hepatitis A is almost always acute and self-limiting, so you code B15.9 for a routine case and B15.0 when hepatic coma is documented. There is no chronic hepatitis A category, which makes this the simplest type in the block.
Hepatitis B (B16 and B18)
Hepatitis B is the busiest type. Acute cases use B16, split by delta-agent and coma across B16.0, B16.1, B16.2, and B16.9. Chronic cases use B18.0 (with delta-agent) or B18.1 (without delta-agent). Then, for a symptom-free long-term carrier, you move outside this block to a status code, covered below.
Hepatitis C (B17.1- and B18.2)
Hepatitis C is a leading driver of chronic liver disease, so this pairing comes up often. Acute hepatitis C is B17.10 (without hepatic coma) or B17.11 (with coma). Chronic hepatitis C is B18.2. Given how frequently hepatitis C becomes chronic, verify the acute-versus-chronic wording carefully before you choose.
Hepatitis D and E
Hepatitis D rides along with hepatitis B through the delta-agent codes above. Hepatitis E, by contrast, gets its own acute code, B17.2, and, like hepatitis A, has no chronic category in routine coding.
When should you use the B19 unspecified codes?
B19 exists for the case where the provider documents viral hepatitis but not the type. B19.9 covers unspecified viral hepatitis without coma, and the block also carries type-specific unspecified options such as B19.10 (unspecified hepatitis B without coma) and B19.20 (unspecified hepatitis C without coma). Still, treat B19 as a last resort. If the record names the virus, a more specific code from the viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes almost always applies, and payers increasingly push back on unspecified diagnoses. When the documentation is ambiguous, query the provider before defaulting to B19. A quick trip through the ICD-10 alphabetic index often surfaces the specific code you need.
Carrier status, personal history, and pregnancy
Not every hepatitis note belongs in B15-B19. Three common scenarios route elsewhere:
- Carrier status. A symptom-free carrier of hepatitis B gets Z22.51, and a carrier of other viral hepatitis gets Z22.52.
- Personal history. A resolved past infection with no current disease uses a personal-history code such as Z86.19.
- Pregnancy. Viral hepatitis complicating pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium takes a code from O98.4- first, followed by the specific hepatitis code.
You can confirm any of these companion codes against the current 2026 ICD-10-CM code list so the secondary diagnoses match the active fiscal year. For the clinical background behind each virus, the CDC hepatitis resources and the CMS ICD-10-CM guidelines are the authoritative references.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICD-10 code range for viral hepatitis?
The viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes run from B15 to B19, covering acute hepatitis A, B, and other acute forms, chronic viral hepatitis, and unspecified viral hepatitis.
What is the ICD-10 code for chronic hepatitis C?
Chronic hepatitis C is B18.2. Acute hepatitis C, by contrast, is B17.10 without hepatic coma or B17.11 with hepatic coma.
How do you code hepatitis B with delta-agent?
Acute hepatitis B with delta-agent is B16.0 (with coma) or B16.1 (without coma). Chronic hepatitis B with delta-agent is B18.0.
Is there a chronic hepatitis A code?
No. Hepatitis A is acute and self-limiting, so it only has B15.0 (with hepatic coma) and B15.9 (without). There is no chronic hepatitis A category.
When should I use B19 for viral hepatitis?
Use B19 only when the provider documents viral hepatitis without specifying the type. If the type is known, choose the specific code and query for clarification when the note is unclear.
Bringing the block together
The viral hepatitis ICD-10 codes reward a steady reading habit. On every liver case, ask three questions in order: which virus, acute or chronic, and is there a delta-agent or hepatic coma in the picture. Those answers walk you straight to the right code from B15 to B19. Keep carrier status, history, and pregnancy in a separate mental bucket, save B19 for the genuinely undocumented case, and this block stops being a guessing game.
