ICD10BillableValid for clinical use

ICD-10 Code A36.81: Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy

A36.81 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents diphtheritic cardiomyopathy in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.

Code hierarchy

chapter
1Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
block
A30-A49Other bacterial diseases
category
A36Diphtheria
category
A36.8Other diphtheria
currentA36.8

Official coding notes

Inclusion terms
  • Diphtheritic myocarditis

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

Infectious Disease SpecialistGeneral Physician

Coverage-related procedures and services

CPT 76376high
3D RENDERING WITH INTERPRETATION AND REPORTING OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, ULTRASOUND, OR OTHER TOMOGRAPHIC MODALITY WITH IMAGE POSTPROCESSING UNDER CONCURRENT SUPERVISION; NOT REQUIRING IMAGE POSTPROCESSING ON AN INDEPENDENT WORKSTATION
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 76377high
3D RENDERING WITH INTERPRETATION AND REPORTING OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, ULTRASOUND, OR OTHER TOMOGRAPHIC MODALITY WITH IMAGE POSTPROCESSING UNDER CONCURRENT SUPERVISION; REQUIRING IMAGE POSTPROCESSING ON AN INDEPENDENT WORKSTATION
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93325high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY COLOR FLOW VELOCITY MAPPING (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93320high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSED WAVE AND/OR CONTINUOUS WAVE WITH SPECTRAL DISPLAY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING); COMPLETE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93321high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSED WAVE AND/OR CONTINUOUS WAVE WITH SPECTRAL DISPLAY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING); FOLLOW-UP OR LIMITED STUDY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93306high
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, TRANSTHORACIC, REAL-TIME WITH IMAGE DOCUMENTATION (2D), INCLUDES M-MODE RECORDING, WHEN PERFORMED, COMPLETE, WITH SPECTRAL DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, AND WITH COLOR FLOW DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Source: CMS coverage guidance

Coding guidelines

Common synonyms

Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeA36.81
SystemICD10
Display nameDiphtheritic cardiomyopathy
ChapterCertain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
BlockOther bacterial diseases

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

Index terms

Matched terms
Diphtheria, diphtheritic(gangrenous) (hemorrhagic)Myocarditis(with arteriosclerosis)(chronic)(fibroid) (interstitial) (old) (progressive) (senile)Myocarditis(with arteriosclerosis)(chronic)(fibroid) (interstitial) (old) (progressive) (senile)

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.

ICD-10 Code A36.81 for Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy | HealthAssure