2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R44.1Visual hallucinations

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R40-R46›R44

ICD-10-CM R44.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R44.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for visual hallucinations. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. 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 General sensation/perception signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R44.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Visual hallucinations
Short Description
Visual hallucinations
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R44
Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR40-R46Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior
CategoryR44Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions
This CodeR44.1Visual hallucinations

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Auditory hallucinations with visual hallucinations
  • Charles Bonnet syndrome
  • Dissociative hallucinations
  • Dissociative visual hallucinations
  • Formed hallucinations of animals
  • Formed hallucinations of insects
  • Formed hallucinations of objects
  • Formed hallucinations of people
  • Formed visual hallucinations
  • Scenic visual hallucinations
  • Unformed visual hallucinations
  • Visual hallucinations

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R44.1: its own notes plus those printed at R44, block R40-R46, 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 R44 Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions applies to 6 codes
  • alcoholic hallucinations (F10.151, F10.251, F10.951)
  • hallucinations in drug psychosis (F11-F19 with fifth to sixth characters 51)
  • hallucinations in mood disorders with psychotic symptoms (F30.2, F31.5, F32.3, F33.3)
  • hallucinations in schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20-F29)

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 R44 Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions applies to 6 codes
  • disturbances of skin sensation (R20.-)
From Block R40-R46 Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior applies to 157 codes
  • symptoms and signs constituting part of a pattern of mental disorder (F01-F99)
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 R44.1, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming R44.1: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H53.1 Subjective visual disturbances
    visual hallucinations (R44.1)

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 SYM015
General sensation/perception signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions. People with psychoses lose touch with reality. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, such as thinking that someone is plotting against you or that the TV is sending you secret messages.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R44.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
368.16 Psychophysic visual dist
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 R44.1Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for visual hallucinations?

The ICD-10-CM code for visual hallucinations is R44.1 (sometimes written as R441). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R44.1 a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R44.1 group to?

When visual hallucinations is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 125, 124, with relative weights from 0.7699 to 1.2470 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R44.1 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Can R44.1 be reported with F10.151?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at R44, which applies to R44.1, lists "alcoholic hallucinations (F10.151, F10.251, F10.951)". 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).