Samuel A. Collins
| DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Effective Date: Oct. 1, 2025
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, 487 additions, 28 deletions, and 38 revisions.
Key rule: Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services before Oct. 1 use old codes; services on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes.
Areas Impacting Acupuncture Documentation
While no changes affect the common pain conditions most frequently used by acupuncturists, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for abdominal pain and trauma, as well as the comorbidity of multiple sclerosis.
Pain & Tenderness (R-Codes)
Deleted: R10.2 Pelvic and perineal pain
Added:
- R10.20 – R10.23 Pelvic/perineal pain (unspecified, right, left, bilateral)
- R10.24 Suprapubic pain
- R10.85 Abdominal pain, multiple sites
- R10.8A1 – R10.8A3 Flank/suprapubic tenderness (side-specific)
- R10.8A9 Flank tenderness, unspecified
- R10.A0 – R10.A3 Flank pain (side-specific and unspecified)
Contusions (S-Codes)
Deleted: S30.1XXA/D/S Contusion of abdominal wall
Added:
- S30.11XA – S30.11XS Abdominal wall contusion (initial, subsequent, sequela)
- S30.12XA – S30.12XS Groin contusion
- S30.13XA – S30.13XS Flank (latus) region contusion
Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis – G35)
Deleted: G35 Multiple sclerosis
Added:
- G35.A Relapsing-remitting MS
- G35.B0 – B2 Primary progressive MS (unspecified, active, non-active)
- G35.C0 – C2 Secondary progressive MS (unspecified, active, non-active)
- G35.D Multiple sclerosis, unspecified
Practical Impact for Acupuncturists
Coding precision is increasing: Many previously single codes (e.g., pelvic pain, contusion of abdominal wall, multiple sclerosis) now have laterality, site-specificity, and disease activity requirements.
Claims risk: Using a deleted or outdated code after Oct. 1 will result in claim denial.
Best practice: Update your EHR, superbills, and macros now to ensure correct code selection.
