2026 ICD-10-CM Code Updates: What You Need to Know

📌 Introduction

Every year, the ICD-10-CM code set is updated to reflect advances in medicine and improve clinical documentation. The 2026 ICD-10-CM updates go live on October 1, 2025, bringing 487 new codes, 28 deletions, and 38 revisions. These changes impact multiple specialties, from chronic disease management to obstetrics and behavioral health.

This guide highlights the most important ICD-10 changes for 2026 and offers tips for smooth implementation.

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🔹 Key Highlights of 2026 ICD-10-CM Updates

1. New, Deleted & Revised Codes

• 487 new diagnosis codes

• 28 deletions

• 38 revisions

2. Major Clinical Additions

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus in remission – new code category for patients maintaining glucose control for 3+ months.

• Hyperoxaluria – 7 new codes distinguishing inherited vs acquired forms.

• Multiple sclerosis phenotypes – 8 codes for disease progression.

• Thyroid eye disease – 4 new dedicated codes.

• Immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) – new coding option.

3. Expanded Categories

• Non-pressure chronic ulcers – 100+ new codes for site and severity.

• Injury coding – new anatomical site “flank” added to 100+ codes.

• Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) – greater specificity for housing, economic, and family support issues.

• Cardiac & vascular conditions – expanded codes for heart failure subtypes and acute myocardial infarction.

• Behavioral health – expanded categories for major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and substance use remission.

• Obstetrics & neonatology – new codes for high-risk pregnancies and refined preterm infant categories.

4. Guideline Updates

• Clarifications for HIV coding

• Updates on diabetes remission documentation

• Rules for coding multiple anatomical sites

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✅ Why These Updates Matter

• Better Accuracy: Improves clinical documentation and risk adjustment.

• Reimbursement Precision: Impacts DRG assignments, CC/MCC groupings, and payment levels.

• Compliance: Ensures clean claims and reduces audit risks.

• Population Health: Expanded SDOH coding supports value-based care.

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🚀 Implementation Tips

1. Train coders & providers on high-impact areas like diabetes, cardiology, behavioral health, and SDOH.

2. Update EHRs & coding tools with 2026 ICD-10 codes.

3. Run dual coding tests to identify documentation gaps.

4. Audit early after implementation to reduce denials.

5. Use technology & automation to streamline updates.