2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R19.6Halitosis

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R10-R19›R19

ICD-10-CM R19.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R19.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for halitosis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. 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
R19.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Halitosis
Short Description
Halitosis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R19
Other symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR10-R19Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
CategoryR19Other symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
This CodeR19.6Halitosis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Autosomal recessive extra-oral halitosis
  • Breath smells unpleasant
  • Fetor hepaticus
  • Garlic breath
  • Ketotic breath
  • Lead breath
  • Onion breath
  • Smell of alcohol on breath
  • Smell of breath - finding
  • Uremic breath

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.

    • Breath
      • foul
    • Fetid
      • breath
    • Foul breath
    • Halitosis

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

  • Halitosis

    an offensive, foul breath odor resulting from a variety of causes such as poor oral hygiene, dental or oral infections, or the ingestion of certain foods.

Patient EducationClinical

Mouth Disorders

Your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. It has many different functions. It allows you to:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R19.6 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
784.99 Head & neck symptoms NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 R19.6Overview

Is R19.6 a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R19.6 group to?

When halitosis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R19.6 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R19.6?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, halitosis converts to ICD-9-CM 784.99 (head & neck symptoms NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.