ICD-10 O76
Billable / SpecificAbnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery
About ICD-10-CM O76
ICD-10-CM code O76 represents Abnormality in fetal heart rate and rhythm complicating labor and delivery. This is a billable/specific code in the Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Puerperium chapter (block O76). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM O76 became effective on October 1, 2025.
Coding Tips for O76
Specialist guidance from the PayerReady Medical Coding Team. Specificity warnings, HCC capture rules, sequencing notes.
Most O codes require a 7th character indicating trimester (1 = first, 2 = second, 3 = third). Some require fetus identification character. Code O09 (supervision of high-risk pregnancy) is required as a secondary code when applicable.
Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms
Clinical terms and conditions classified under O76. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.
- Depressed fetal heart rate tones complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal bradycardia complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal heart rate decelerations complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal heart rate irregularity complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal heart rate abnormal variability complicating labor and delivery
- Fetal tachycardia complicating labor and delivery
- Non-reassuring fetal heart rate or rhythm complicating labor and delivery
Type 1 Excludes
Pure excludes, these codes can never be coded together with O76. The conditions are mutually exclusive (e.g., congenital vs acquired forms).
- fetal stress NOS (O77.9)
- labor and delivery complicated by electrocardiographic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8)
- labor and delivery complicated by ultrasonic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8)
Type 2 Excludes
Not included here, the excluded code is not part of O76, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. Both codes may be coded together when applicable.
- fetal metabolic acidemia (O68)
- other fetal stress (O77.0-O77.1)
Medicare LCD Coverage for O76
Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list O76 as a covered diagnosis.
This doesn't mean the code isn't covered, it means no MAC has issued a Local Coverage Determination naming this specific code. Coverage may still apply under National Coverage Determinations or general medical-necessity rules.
Commercial Payer Coverage
Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing O76.
1 Aetna
CPT Codes Commonly Billed with O76
Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.
We don't have CPT pairings indexed for this specific code yet. Use the CPT search above to find common procedures, or check your payer's published medical policy for code-specific guidance.
Convert O76 to ICD-9-CM
Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.
| ICD-10 | ICD-9 | Mapping Flags |
|---|---|---|
| O76 | 65971 | 10000 |
Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).
Codes Adjacent To O76
Other codes in section O60-O77 (Complications of labor and delivery).
ICD-10 O76, Billing FAQ
Is ICD-10 code O76 billable? +
Yes, O76 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.
What other names or terms map to O76? +
ICD-10 O76 includes: Depressed fetal heart rate tones complicating labor and delivery; Fetal bradycardia complicating labor and delivery; Fetal heart rate decelerations complicating labor and delivery, and 4 more clinical synonyms.
What codes are Type 1 Excludes for O76? +
Type 1 Excludes (never code together with O76): fetal stress NOS (O77.9); labor and delivery complicated by electrocardiographic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8); labor and delivery complicated by ultrasonic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8)
What codes are Type 2 Excludes for O76? +
Type 2 Excludes (may be coded together when both conditions exist): fetal metabolic acidemia (O68); other fetal stress (O77.0-O77.1)
What ICD-9 codes does O76 map to? +
Per CMS GEMs, O76 maps to ICD-9 codes: 65971. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.
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Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team
Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on May 31, 2026.
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