Hypertension ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a chronic condition affecting nearly half of U.S. adults. Managing it effectively starts with getting the diagnosis right and charting it correctly. This helps patients access the treatments they need with insurance coverage while ensuring that your practice receives payment.
ICD-10 codes classify hypertension by cause, complication, and severity. Below, the Weave team walks through some of the key hypertension ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. Weave’s Communication Platform helps with accurate billing so your team can manage payments with ease.
ICD-10 hypertension codes and their meanings
Hypertension is elevated blood pressure. This can cause various conditions, ranging from heart disease without heart failure to chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, neonatal hypertension, and more. The ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes identify the type of hypertension, potential causes relating to the disease, complications, related diseases, and risk factors.
I10 – Essential (primary) hypertension
I10 is high BP with no identifiable secondary cause or underlying cause, often identified as “hypertension NOS.” It excludes elevated hypertension without a diagnosis (R03.0).
An example of I10 would be an adult with repeatedly elevated readings, confirmed hypertension, and no underlying cause.
I11 – Hypertensive heart disease
I11 defines hypertension with heart complications, such as hypertrophy or any disease with heart failure.
An example of I11 might be a patient with high BP and an echocardiogram showing left ventricular hypertrophy.
I12 – Hypertensive chronic kidney disease (CKD)
I12 is the code for hypertension that causes or worsens chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease also requires CKD stage coding (N18.x) alongside the hypertension ICD-10 codes. For example, stage 4 hypertensive chronic kidney disease might require I12.9 and N18.4.
I13 – Hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease
I13 is for hypertensive heart disease that also causes CKD. This may be with or without heart failure, but the CKD stage is required. An example for hypertension with heart failure and stage 3 CKD might be I13.0 and N18.3.
I14 – Malignant hypertension
I14 covers rapidly progressive hypertension causing organ damage. An example might be a hospital admission for BP 220/120 with retinal hemorrhage and an acute kidney injury.
I15 – Secondary hypertension
Hypertensive disease caused by another condition, such as an endocrine disorder or renal artery stenosis, falls under I15. For example, providers may use I15.0 for renovascular hypertension confirmed by imaging.
I16 – Hypertensive crisis
Severe hypertension requiring urgent medical intervention is coded as I16. For example, an ER visit for BP 210/110 with chest pain and EKG changes may fall under I16.1.
Documentation essentials for accurate coding
For successful hypertension ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, providers must document the following:
- Hypertensive heart disease type
- Related heart or kidney disease
- Acute organ damage, if present
- Cause (if secondary hypertension)
Your team can use Weave’s EHR prompts to ensure these details are recorded before coding.
Common coding pitfalls to avoid with ICD-10 codes for hypertension
Coding mistakes can lead to claim denials. For a single elevated BP reading, providers typically should use R03.0 rather than I10.
Unspecified chronic kidney disease or heart failure is another common issue. When coding I12 or I13, your team needs to include the CKD or heart failure stage.
Weave’s role in hypertension management and coding
At Weave, we offer digital forms for essential hypertension logging. Our automated reminders make it easy to keep follow-ups on track, and our Team Chat feature allows for quick chart clarifications between providers and billing staff. With Weave’s billing and payments, you can process payments while ensuring coding accuracy.
Keeping your ICD-10-CM codes accurate
Accurate hypertension ICD-10 coding protects your reimbursement rates and supports patient safety. Request a demo of Weave to see how we can streamline your payment process.
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