Version 2024
No Valid Principal Dx

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R40.222

Coma scale, best verbal response, incomprehensible words

ICD-10-CM Code:
R40.222
ICD-10 Code for:
Coma scale, best verbal response, incomprehensible words
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
    (R00–R99)
    • Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior
      (R40-R46)
      • Somnolence, stupor and coma
        (R40)

R40.222 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of coma scale, best verbal response, incomprehensible words. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

According to ICD-10-CM guidelines this code should not to be used as a principal diagnosis code when a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Specific Coding Applicable to Coma scale, best verbal response, incomprehensible words

Non-specific codes like R40.222 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for coma scale, best verbal response, incomprehensible words:

  • Use R40.2220 for unspecified time - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R40.2221 for in the field [EMT or ambulance] - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R40.2222 for at arrival to emergency department - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R40.2223 for at hospital admission - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R40.2224 for 24 hours or more after hospital admission - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Coma scale verbal score of 2
  • Incomprehensible sounds (2-5 years of age)
  • Moans/grunts to pain; restless (<2 years old)

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.