2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R25.8Other abnormal involuntary movements

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R25-R29›R25

ICD-10-CM R25.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R25.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other abnormal involuntary movements. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 91 through 93. 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 Nervous system signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R25.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other abnormal involuntary movements
Short Description
Other abnormal involuntary movements
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R25
Abnormal involuntary movements

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR25-R29Symptoms and signs involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
CategoryR25Abnormal involuntary movements
This CodeR25.8Other abnormal involuntary movements

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Ankle clonus
  • Ankle clonus present
  • Ankle clonus sustained
  • Ankle clonus unsustained
  • Athetoid movement
  • Athetoid paralysis
  • Athetosis
  • Athetosis with rigidity
  • Athetosis with spastic paraplegia
  • Blink reflex finding
  • Blinking
  • Bradykinesia
  • Clonus
  • Excessive blinking - involuntary
  • Flinging movement
  • Flinging movement of arm
  • Flinging movement of leg
  • Involuntary truncal rocking
  • Movement of eyelid - finding
  • Named sensory sign
  • Opisthotonus
  • Oral rumination
  • Patella clonus unsustained
  • Patellar clonus
  • Patellar clonus present
  • Patellar clonus sustained
  • Posthemiplegic athetosis
  • Pseudoathetosis
  • Sustained clonus
  • Synkinesis
  • Synkinesis of eyelid
  • Synkinesis of face
  • Wrist clonus
  • Writhing movements

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R25.8: its own notes plus those printed at R25 and Chapter 18. 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 R25 Abnormal involuntary movements applies to 6 codes
  • specific movement disorders (G20-G26)
  • stereotyped movement disorders (F98.4)
  • tic disorders (F95.-)

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.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name R25.8, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming R25.8: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • F98.4 Stereotyped movement disorders
    abnormal involuntary movements (R25.-) names R25.-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM010
Nervous system signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Athetosis

    a dyskinesia characterized by an inability to maintain the fingers, toes, tongue, or other body parts in a stable position, resulting in continuous slow, sinusoidal, and flowing involuntary movements. this condition is frequently accompanied by chorea, where it is referred to as choreoathetosis. athetosis may occur as a manifestation of basal ganglia diseases or drug toxicity. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p76)

Patient EducationClinical

Movement Disorders

Movement disorders are neurologic conditions that cause problems with movement, such as:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R25.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
781.0 Abn involun movement 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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R25.8Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other abnormal involuntary movements?

The ICD-10-CM code for other abnormal involuntary movements is R25.8 (sometimes written as R258). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R25.8 (Abnormal involuntary movements) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other abnormal involuntary movements on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R25.8 group to?

When other abnormal involuntary movements is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 91, 92, 93, with relative weights from 0.7783 to 1.7050 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R25.8 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Can R25.8 be reported with F98.4?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at R25, which applies to R25.8, lists "stereotyped movement disorders (F98.4)". 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).