2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R39.15Urgency of urination

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R30-R39›R39

ICD-10-CM R39.15
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R39.15 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for urgency of urination. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) 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. Coders also document this condition as desire for urination. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Genitourinary signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R39.15
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Urgency of urination
Short Description
Urgency of urination
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R39.1
Other difficulties with micturition

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR30-R39Symptoms and signs involving the genitourinary system
CategoryR39Other and unspecified symptoms and signs involving the genitourinary system
This CodeR39.15Urgency of urination

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Desire for urination
  • Finding of desire for urination
  • Urgent desire to urinate
  • Urinary urgency due to benign prostatic hypertrophy
  • Urinary urgency during pregnancy

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R39.15: its own notes plus those printed at R39.1 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.

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)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

From R39.1 Other difficulties with micturition applies to 9 codes
  • if applicable, any causal condition, such as:
  • enlarged prostate (N40.1)

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 R39.15, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming R39.15: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Block R10-R19 Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
    signs and symptoms involving the urinary system (R30-R39) names R30-R39, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 2

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and R39.15 is one of the codes named.

  • N40.1 Benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms
    urinary urgency (R39.15)
  • N40.3 Nodular prostate with lower urinary tract symptoms
    urinary urgency (R39.15)

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

Patient EducationClinical

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of bladder control, or being unable to control urination. It is a common condition. It can range from being a minor problem to something that greatly affects your daily life. In any case, it can get better with proper treatment.

The full article covers:

  • What is urinary incontinence (UI)?
  • What are the types of urinary incontinence (UI)?
  • Who is at risk for urinary incontinence (UI)?
  • How is urinary incontinence (UI) diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for urinary incontinence (UI)?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R39.15 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
788.63 Urgency of urination
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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R39.15Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for urgency of urination?

The ICD-10-CM code for urgency of urination is R39.15 (sometimes written as R3915). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R39.15 (Other difficulties with micturition) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R39.15 group to?

When urgency of urination is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 696, 695, with relative weights from 0.6677 to 1.1136 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R39.15 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Can R39.15 be reported with N39.41?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on R39.15 lists "urge incontinence (N39.41, N39.46)". 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).