2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R03.1Nonspecific low blood-pressure reading

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R00-R09›R03

ICD-10-CM R03.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R03.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for nonspecific low blood-pressure reading. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 314 through 316. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. Coders also document this condition as blood pressure below reference range. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Circulatory signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R03.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Nonspecific low blood-pressure reading
Short Description
Nonspecific low blood-pressure reading
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R03
Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis

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 CodeR03.1Nonspecific low blood-pressure reading

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Blood pressure below reference range
  • Diastolic arterial pressure below reference range
  • Diastolic arterial pressure outside reference range
  • Mean arterial pressure below reference range
  • Systolic arterial pressure below reference range
  • Systolic arterial pressure outside reference range

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Type 1 Excludes

  • hypotension I95
  • maternal hypotension syndrome O26.5
  • neurogenic orthostatic hypotension G90.3

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
      • blood pressure
        • low reading (nonspecific)
    • Blood
      • pressure
        • low
          • incidental reading, without diagnosis of hypotension
    • Decrease(d)
      • blood
        • pressure
    • Low
      • blood pressure
        • reading (incidental) (isolated) (nonspecific)
    • Pressure
      • hyposystolic
        • incidental reading, without diagnosis of hypotension

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SYM012
Circulatory signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Low Blood Pressure

You've probably heard that high blood pressure is a problem. Sometimes blood pressure that is too low can also cause problems.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R03.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
796.3 Low blood press reading
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About R03.1Overview

Is R03.1 (Abnormal blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report nonspecific low blood-pressure reading on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does R03.1 group to?

When nonspecific low blood-pressure reading is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 314, 315, 316, with relative weights from 0.6821 to 2.0852 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R03.1 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the nonspecific low blood-pressure reading is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R03.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, nonspecific low blood-pressure reading converts to ICD-9-CM 796.3 (low blood press reading). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.