ICD10BillableValid for clinical use

ICD-10 Code A87.9: Viral meningitis, unspecified

A87.9 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Viral meningitis, unspecified 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 viral meningitis, unspecified 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
A80-A89Viral and prion infections of the central nervous system
category
A87Viral meningitis
currentA87

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 87483high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM PATHOGEN (EG, NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS, STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE, LISTERIA, HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE, E. COLI, STREPTOCOCCUS AGALACTIAE, ENTEROVIRUS, HUMAN PARECHOVIRUS, HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 1 AND 2, HUMAN HERPESVIRUS 6, CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS, CRYPTOCOCCUS), INCLUDES MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION, WHEN PERFORMED, AND MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE, MULTIPLE TYPES OR SUBTYPES, 12-25 TARGETS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 70460high
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, HEAD OR BRAIN; WITH CONTRAST MATERIAL(S)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 70450high
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, HEAD OR BRAIN; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 70470high
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, HEAD OR BRAIN; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL, FOLLOWED BY CONTRAST MATERIAL(S) AND FURTHER SECTIONS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
HCPCS G2189high
PATIENTS WITH CLINICAL INDICATIONS FOR IMAGING OF THE HEAD: ABNORMAL NEUROLOGIC EXAM
Source: CMS coverage guidance
HCPCS G2187high
PATIENTS WITH CLINICAL INDICATIONS FOR IMAGING OF THE HEAD: HEAD TRAUMA
Source: CMS coverage guidance

Coding guidelines

Compatibility

Legacy and official ICD code match exactly.
Legacy codes
A87.9

Common synonyms

Viral meningitis, unspecifiedViral meningitis

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeA87.9
SystemICD10
Display nameViral meningitis, unspecified
ChapterCertain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
BlockViral and prion infections of the central nervous system

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

Index terms

Matched terms
Meningitis(basal) (basic) (brain) (cerebral) (cervical) (congestive) (diffuse) (hemorrhagic) (infantile) (membranous) (metastatic) (nonspecific) (pontine) (progressive) (simple) (spinal) (subacute) (sympathetic) (toxic)

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 A87.9 for Viral meningitis, unspecified | HealthAssure