2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I16Hypertensive crisis

ICD-10-CM Codes›I00–I99›I10-I1A›I16

ICD-10-CM I16
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

I16 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for hypertensive crisis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as I16.0, I16.1, and I16.9.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
I16
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Hypertensive crisis
Short Description
Hypertensive crisis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
I10-I1A
Hypertensive diseases

Code Classification

ChapterI00–I99Diseases of the circulatory system
SectionI10-I1AHypertensive diseases
CategoryI16Hypertensive crisis
This CodeI16Hypertensive crisis

Specific Coding for Hypertensive crisisOverview

Non-specific codes like I16 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use I16.0 for Hypertensive urgency

  • Use I16.1 for Hypertensive emergency

  • Use I16.9 for Hypertensive crisis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to I16: its own notes plus those printed at block I10-I1A and Chapter 9. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From Block I10-I1A Hypertensive diseases applies to 18 codes
  • neonatal hypertension (P29.2)
  • primary pulmonary hypertension (I27.0)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Block I10-I1A Hypertensive diseases applies to 18 codes
  • hypertensive disease complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O10-O11, O13-O16)
From Chapter 9 (I00-I99) Diseases of the circulatory system applies to 1,433 codes
  • 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.-)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Block I10-I1A Hypertensive diseases applies to 18 codes
  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

  • any identified hypertensive disease (I10-I15, I1A)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name I16, its category, or a range that includes it.

Use Additional Code 3

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and I16 is one of the codes named.

  • G90.81 Serotonin syndrome
    hypertensive crisis (I16.-)
  • G31.84 Mild cognitive impairment of uncertain or unknown etiology
    hypertension (I10-I1A) names I10-I1A, which includes this code
  • Block I60-I69 Cerebrovascular diseases
    hypertension (I10-I1A) names I10-I1A, which includes this code

Code Also 2

These codes say I16 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • Block I20-I25 Ischemic heart diseases
    the presence of hypertension (I10-I1A) names I10-I1A, which includes this code
  • Z15.3 Genetic susceptibility to kidney disease
    if applicable, hypertension (I10-I1A) names I10-I1A, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hypertensive Crisis

    a severe, acute increase in blood pressure that may result in stroke or myocardial ischemia.

Patient EducationClinical

High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls.

The full article covers:

  • What is blood pressure?
  • How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
  • What are the different types of high blood pressure?
  • Why do I need to worry about high blood pressure?
  • What are the treatments for high blood pressure?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2019AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2018.
FY 2020–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About I16Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for hypertensive crisis?

I16 is the ICD-10-CM category for hypertensive crisis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is I16 (Hypertensive crisis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for hypertensive crisis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for hypertensive crisis need a more specific code from this category, such as I16.0, I16.1, and I16.9.

Can I16 be reported with P29.2?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block I10-I1A, which applies to I16, lists "neonatal hypertension (P29.2)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).