2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R33.9Retention of urine, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R30-R39›R33

ICD-10-CM R33.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R33.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for retention of urine, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 695 through 696. 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 Genitourinary signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R33.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Retention of urine, unspecified
Short Description
Retention of urine, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R33
Retention of urine

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR30-R39Symptoms and signs involving the genitourinary system
CategoryR33Retention of urine
This CodeR33.9Retention of urine, unspecified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Cauda equina syndrome with painless urinary retention
  • Finding of measure of urinary bladder
  • Finding of urinary bladder emptying
  • Finding of urinary bladder volume
  • Fowler syndrome
  • Inefficient emptying of urinary bladder
  • Large volume of residual urine after micturition
  • Retention of urine

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.

    • Incomplete
      • bladder, emptying
    • Retention
      • urine
    • Urine
      • retention or stasis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM011
Genitourinary signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Urine and Urination

Your kidneys make urine by filtering wastes and extra water from your blood. The waste is called urea. Your blood carries it to the kidneys. From the kidneys, urine travels down two thin tubes called ureters to the bladder. The bladder stores urine until you are ready to urinate.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R33.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
788.20 Retention urine NOS
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 R33.9Overview

Is R33.9 (Retention of urine) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R33.9 group to?

When retention of urine, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 695, 696, with relative weights from 0.6890 to 1.1438 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R33.9 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R33.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, retention of urine, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 788.20 (retention urine NOS). 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.