I50.9 — Heart failure, unspecified
Is I50.9 billable?
Yes, but I50.9 is an unspecified code. I50.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, I50.9 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 I50.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
I50.9 at a glance
| Code | I50.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Heart failure, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does I50.9 group to?
I50.9 sits in MDC 05 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 291Heart Failure and Shock with MCCmedical
- 292Heart Failure and Shock with CCmedical
- 293Heart Failure and Shock without CC/MCCmedical
How is I50.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to I50.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Asthenia, asthenic › cardiac
- Asthenia, asthenic › cardiovascular
- Asthenia, asthenic › heart
- Asthenia, asthenic › myocardial
- Failure, failed › cardiorenal
- Failure, failed › heart
- Failure, failed › myocardial, myocardium
- Failure, failed › ventricular
- Insufficiency, insufficient › myocardial, myocardium
- Paralysis, paralytic › cardiac (complete) (incomplete)
- Dysfunction › ventricular › with congestive heart failure
- Failure, failed › heart › compensated
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of I50.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, I50.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- fluid overload unrelated to congestive heart failure (E87.70)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to I50.9.
- Cardiac, heart or myocardial failure NOS
- Congestive heart disease
- Congestive heart failure NOS
Code first — inherited from I50
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before I50.9. I50.9 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
- heart failure complicating abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.8)
- heart failure due to hypertension (I11.0)
- heart failure due to hypertension with chronic kidney disease (I13.-)
- heart failure following surgery (I97.13-)
- obstetric surgery and procedures (O75.4)
- rheumatic heart failure (I09.81)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 9
The conditions below are not part of I50.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, I50.9 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 I50
The conditions below are not part of I50.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, I50.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has I50.9 existed?
I50.9 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.