I15.9 — Secondary hypertension, unspecified
Is I15.9 billable?
Yes, but I15.9 is an unspecified code. I15.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, I15.9 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 I15.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
I15.9 at a glance
| Code | I15.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Secondary hypertension, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does I15.9 group to?
I15.9 sits in MDC 05 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 304Hypertension with MCCmedical
- 305Hypertension without MCCmedical
How is I15.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to I15.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Hypertension, hypertensive › secondary NEC (accelerated) (benign) (essential) (idiopathic) (malignant) (systemic)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from I10-I1A
The conditions below can never be reported together with I15.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from I15
The conditions below can never be reported together with I15.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- postprocedural hypertension (I97.3)
Use additional code — inherited from I10-I1A
Report an additional code alongside I15.9 to fully describe the condition. I15.9 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 9
The conditions below are not part of I15.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, I15.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
- transient cerebral ischemic attacks and related syndromes (G45.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from I10-I1A
The conditions below are not part of I15.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, I15.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from I15
The conditions below are not part of I15.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, I15.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from I15
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether I15.9 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- underlying condition
How long has I15.9 existed?
I15.9 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.