Is A49 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. A49 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does A49 sit in the tabular list?

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99), in the block Other bacterial diseases (A30-A49).

What cannot be coded together with A49?

A49 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

A49

A49 — Bacterial infection of unspecified site

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

A49 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for bacterial infection of unspecified site. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1 — never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere (B95-B96)
chlamydial infection NOS (A74.9)
meningococcal infection NOS (A39.9)
rickettsial infection NOS (A79.9)
spirochetal infection NOS (A69.9)

Other codes that can never be billed with A49

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at A49. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading A49 alone.

Z16Resistance to antimicrobial drugs

Risk adjustment

A49 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code to one of these instead A49

6 child codes. Green means billable.

Questions about A49

Is A49 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. A49 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does A49 sit in the tabular list?: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99), in the block Other bacterial diseases (A30-A49).
What cannot be coded together with A49?: A49 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.