2026 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 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R44.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for visual hallucinations. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) 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.

  • 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

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.

    • Hallucination
      • visual
    • Vision, visual
      • hallucinations

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

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Charles Bonnet Syndrome

    repetitive visual hallucinations experienced mostly by elderly with diminished visual acuity or visual field loss, with awareness of the fictional nature of their hallucinations. it is not associated with delusions and other sensory hallucinations.

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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About R44.1Overview

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, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does R44.1 group to?

When visual hallucinations is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 124, 125, with relative weights from 0.7678 to 1.3231 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.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R44.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, visual hallucinations converts to ICD-9-CM 368.16 (psychophysic visual dist). 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.