R43.9 — Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste
Is R43.9 billable?
Yes, but R43.9 is an unspecified code. R43.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, R43.9 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 R43.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
R43.9 at a glance
| Code | R43.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does R43.9 group to?
R43.9 sits in MDC 01 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.
- 091Other Disorders of Nervous System with MCCmedical
- 092Other Disorders of Nervous System with CCmedical
- 093Other Disorders of Nervous System without CC/MCCmedical
How is R43.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to R43.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Disturbance › sensationNEC › smell (s)
- Disturbance › sensationNEC › taste (s)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18
The conditions below are not part of R43.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R43.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from R40-R46
The conditions below are not part of R43.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R43.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- symptoms and signs constituting part of a pattern of mental disorder (F01-F99)
How long has R43.9 existed?
R43.9 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.