R36.9 — Urethral discharge, unspecified
Is R36.9 billable?
Yes, but R36.9 is an unspecified code. R36.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, R36.9 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 R36.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
R36.9 at a glance
| Code | R36.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Urethral discharge, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does R36.9 group to?
R36.9 sits in MDC 11 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.
- 695Kidney and Urinary Tract Signs and Symptoms with MCCmedical
- 696Kidney and Urinary Tract Signs and Symptoms without MCCmedical
How is R36.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to R36.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Urethrorrhea
- Discharge › penile (from)
- Discharge › urethral (from)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to R36.9.
- Penile discharge NOS
- Urethrorrhea
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18
The conditions below are not part of R36.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R36.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has R36.9 existed?
R36.9 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.