A87.9: Viral meningitis, unspecified
A87.9, viral meningitis, unspecified, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 5 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 11 HCPCS Level II codes, including U0002 (2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19)…), U0001 (Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr…), G2187 (Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the…). The articles come from 4 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.
HCPCS Level II codes with A87.9 as a covered diagnosis
| Code | Description | Medicare coverage | DMEPOS fee 2026 (state range) | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U0002 | 2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-cdc | Carrier judgment | — | 4 |
| U0001 | Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr diagnostic panel | Carrier judgment | — | 4 |
| G2187 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: head trauma | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2188 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: new or change in headache above 50 years of age | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2189 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: abnormal neurologic exam | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2190 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: headache radiating to the neck | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2191 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: positional headaches | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2192 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: temporal headaches in patients over 55 years of age | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2193 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: new onset headache in pre-school children or younger (<6 years of age) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2194 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: new onset headache in pediatric patients with disabilities for which headache is a concern as inferred from behavior | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2195 | Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: occipital headache in children | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
Medicare policy articles listing A87.9
- A58710: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 2 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L38988, L39001, L39038, L39044
- A58720: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 2 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L38988, L39001, L39038, L39044
- A58761: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (WPS Insurance Corporation (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 2 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L38988, L39001, L39038, L39044
- A58747: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 2 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L38988, L39001, L39038, L39044
- A56612: Billing and Coding: CT of the Head (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 9 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34417
A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.
Other A87 diagnoses (Viral meningitis)
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover A87.9 (Viral meningitis, unspecified)?
Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 5 Medicare billing and coding articles list A87.9 as a covered diagnosis for 11 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.
Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 A87.9?
The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are U0002 (2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19)…, 4 articles); U0001 (Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr…, 4 articles); G2187 (Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the…, 1 article); G2188 (Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the…, 1 article); G2189 (Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the…, 1 article). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.
Which Medicare policy articles list A87.9?
A58710 (Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing); A58720 (Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing); A58761 (Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing), and 2 more articles.
What is ICD-10-CM code A87.9?
A87.9 is the ICD-10-CM code for viral meningitis, unspecified, in category A87 (Viral meningitis), chapter 1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under U0002
- Watch U0002 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for U0002
Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.
Chapter 1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup