2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R15.2Fecal urgency

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R10-R19›R15

ICD-10-CM R15.2
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R15.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for fecal urgency. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 391 through 392. 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 fecal incontinence with fecal urgency. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abdominal pain and other digestive/abdomen signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R15.2
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Fecal urgency
Short Description
Fecal urgency
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R15
Fecal incontinence

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR10-R19Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
CategoryR15Fecal incontinence
This CodeR15.2Fecal urgency

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Fecal incontinence with fecal urgency
  • Urgent desire for stool

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.

    • Fecal
      • urgency
    • Urgency
      • fecal

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM006
Abdominal pain and other digestive/abdomen signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Fecal Urgency

    a continual or recurrent inclination to evacuate the bowels.

  • Have Urgency for Bowel Movements|Have Defecation Urgency|Have Fecal Urgency|I have urgency for bowel movements

    a question about whether an individual has or had urgency for bowel movements.

  • Have Urgency for Bowel Movements Question|Have Defecation Urgency|Have Fecal Urgency|Have Urgency for Bowel Movements|I have urgency for bowel movements

    a question about whether an individual has or had urgency for bowel movements.

Patient EducationClinical

Bowel Incontinence

Bowel incontinence is the inability to control your bowels. When you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, you may not be able to hold it until you get to a toilet. Millions of Americans have this problem. It affects people of all ages - children and adults. It is more common in women and older adults. It is not a normal part of aging.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R15.2 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
787.63 Fecal urgency
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 R15.2Overview

Is R15.2 (Fecal incontinence) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R15.2 group to?

When fecal urgency is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 391, 392, with relative weights from 0.7796 to 1.2683 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R15.2 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the fecal urgency is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R15.2?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, fecal urgency converts to ICD-9-CM 787.63 (fecal urgency). 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.