2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R03Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R00-R09›R03

ICD-10-CM R03
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R03 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as R03.0 and R03.1. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R03
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis
Short Description
Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
R00-R09
Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR00-R09Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems
CategoryR03Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis
This CodeR03Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis

Specific Coding for Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosisOverview

Non-specific codes like R03 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use R03.0 for Elevated blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis of hypertension

  • Use R03.1 for Nonspecific low blood-pressure reading

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R03: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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 Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

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

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 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R03Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis?

R03 is the ICD-10-CM category for abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is R03 (Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis need a more specific code from this category, such as R03.0 and R03.1.

Can R03 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.