Convulsions, not elsewhere classified (R56) ICD-10-CM
The R56 code range covers convulsions, not elsewhere classified with 6 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 4 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Codes in the R56 Range 6 codes · 4 billable
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the R56 range.
Seizures
Clinical or subclinical disturbances of cortical function due to a sudden, abnormal, excessive, and disorganized discharge of brain cells. Clinical manifestations include abnormal motor, sensory and psychic phenomena. Recurrent seizures are usually referred to as EPILEPSY or seizure disorder.
Seizures, Febrile
Seizures that occur during a febrile episode. It is a common condition, affecting 2-5% of children aged 3 months to five years. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance has been identified in some families. The majority are simple febrile seizures (generally defined as generalized onset, single seizures with a duration of less than 30 minutes). Complex febrile seizures are characterized by focal onset, duration greater than 30 minutes, and/or more than one seizure in a 24 hour period. The likelihood of developing epilepsy (i.e., a nonfebrile seizure disorder) following simple febrile seizures is low. Complex febrile seizures are associated with a moderately increased incidence of epilepsy. (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p784)
About the R56 Code Range
Convulsions, also called seizures or fits, appear among general symptoms and signs when not classified elsewhere.
R56 separates fever-related convulsions, seizures after trauma, and unspecified convulsions. Fever-related convulsions fall under R56.0, with separate subdivisions for simple (R56.00) and complex (R56.01) convulsions. R56.1 identifies seizures after trauma, while R56.9 identifies unspecified convulsions.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the R56 range?
Of the 6 codes in this range, 4 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the R56 range classify?
The range classifies convulsions, not elsewhere classified. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
