What is the ICD-10 code for heart failure?

I50 is the ICD-10-CM category for heart failure, but I50 itself is not a billable code, so claims need a more specific code from within the category. When the documentation doesn't specify the type of heart failure, coders use I50.9, Heart failure, unspecified. When the type and acuity are documented, a more specific code applies, such as I50.22 for chronic systolic (congestive) heart failure or I50.33 for acute on chronic diastolic (congestive) heart failure. Confirm the final code against the current ICD-10-CM code set and the patient's documentation.

What is the ICD-10 code for history of CHF?

ICD-10-CM has no dedicated code for a history of congestive heart failure (CHF). Heart failure is usually a chronic condition, so when a patient is still being treated or monitored for it, including with ongoing medication, coders generally assign the current heart failure code from category I50 that matches the documented type and acuity. Z86.79, Personal history of other diseases of the circulatory system, is generally reserved for circulatory conditions that have resolved and are no longer being treated. Because the right choice depends on the provider's documentation, confirm it with a certified coder and the official ICD-10-CM guidelines.

Is I50.0 a valid ICD-10-CM code for congestive heart failure?

No. I50.0 is not a valid code in ICD-10-CM, the version used for diagnosis coding in the United States. The World Health Organization's international ICD-10 uses I50.0 for congestive heart failure, which is why the code still appears in searches and older references. In ICD-10-CM, congestive heart failure without further detail is coded I50.9, Heart failure, unspecified, while documented types use subcategories such as I50.2x for systolic, I50.3x for diastolic, and I50.4x for combined systolic and diastolic heart failure.

Heart Failure ICD-10 Codes: Full I50 Code List and FAQs

Heart failure ICD-10 codes tell payers, care teams, and researchers exactly what kind of heart failure a patient has. Most of them sit in category I50, where the code changes with the type of heart failure (systolic, diastolic, combined, or right-sided) and how it presents (acute, chronic, or acute on chronic). A few related codes sit outside I50, for heart failure linked to rheumatic disease, hypertension, or surgery.

This guide lists the heart failure codes in the current ICD-10-CM code set and answers common coding questions, including how to code a history of congestive heart failure.

Key takeaways

Heart failure ICD-10-CM codes are organized by type and acuity within category I50. Systolic (I50.2x), diastolic (I50.3x), combined systolic and diastolic (I50.4x), and right heart failure (I50.81x) each have unspecified, acute, chronic, and acute on chronic codes, such as I50.33 for acute on chronic diastolic heart failure.
Several heart failure codes sit outside the I50 category. I09.81 covers rheumatic heart failure, I11.0 and the I13 codes cover hypertensive heart disease and hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease with heart failure, and I97.13x covers postprocedural heart failure after cardiac or other surgery.
Specific heart failure codes support billing, quality measurement, and research. Hospitals and clinics rely on accurate codes for reimbursement, use the same data to monitor the quality of heart failure care, and researchers use it to track outcomes and prevalence across patient populations.
Saving frequently used heart failure codes as TextExpander Snippets reduces repeated lookups. A short abbreviation such as ;eshf can insert I50.84 End stage heart failure, so coders can add common codes and descriptions without searching a code list each time.

The detail in a heart failure code follows the patient well past the claim. Specific codes make a difference in five areas:

Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment: These codes provide a precise way to classify different types of heart failure, such as systolic, diastolic, or combined systolic and diastolic heart failure. This classification is essential for choosing the appropriate treatment plan and effectively managing the patient’s condition.
Billing and Reimbursement: In the healthcare system, especially in hospitals and clinics, ICD-10 codes are used for billing purposes. Accurate coding ensures that healthcare providers are reimbursed appropriately for treating patients with heart failure.
Clinical Research and Public Health Monitoring: Heart failure ICD-10 codes identify patient populations, study outcomes, and trends in heart failure treatment and prevalence. They are also crucial for public health monitoring, helping track the incidence and prevalence of heart failure in different populations, which can inform healthcare policy and resource allocation.
Quality Control and Performance Measurement: These codes help assess the quality of care provided to heart failure patients. Hospitals and clinics use these data to monitor their performance, implement quality improvement measures, and ensure compliance with clinical guidelines.
Communication Among Healthcare Providers: Using standardized ICD-10 codes facilitates clear and consistent communication among healthcare providers, both within the same facility and across different facilities. This is crucial for the continuity of care, particularly for patients with complex or chronic conditions like heart failure.

Most coding teams use the same short list of heart failure codes every day, and looking up each description again adds time to every chart. With TextExpander, you can save those codes as Snippets and insert a code and its full description with a short abbreviation in your EHR, billing system, or anywhere else you type.

Try it below. Each Snippet in this example inserts a common heart failure code and its description:

See how TextExpander works

Select a snippet you would like to try

Heart Failure

Rheumatic Heart Failure

End Stage Heart Failure

Type this shortcut below ;hf

Type this shortcut below ;rhf

Type this shortcut below ;eshf