F17.203 — Nicotine dependence unspecified, with withdrawal
Is F17.203 billable?
Yes, but F17.203 is an unspecified code. F17.203 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, F17.203 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting F17.203 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
F17.203 at a glance
| Code | F17.203 |
|---|---|
| Description | Nicotine dependence unspecified, with withdrawal |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does F17.203 group to?
F17.203 sits in MDC 15 and helps define the logic of 1 MS-DRG (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 791Prematurity with Major Problemsmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, F17.203 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is F17.203 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to F17.203. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Tobacco › withdrawal state (nicotine)
- Dependence › drug NEC › nicotine › with disorder › withdrawal (on) (syndrome)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to F17.203.
- Tobacco withdrawal
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from F17
The conditions below can never be reported together with F17.203 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 5
The conditions below are not part of F17.203, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, F17.203 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from F17
The conditions below are not part of F17.203, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, F17.203 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has F17.203 existed?
F17.203 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.