ICD-10-CM 2026 · Effective October 1, 2025

ICD-10 I50.9

Billable / Specific HCC v28: 85

Heart failure, unspecified

I50
Block
3
Synonyms
522
LCDs
54
Payer Policies
15
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM I50.9

ICD-10-CM code I50.9 represents Heart failure, unspecified. This is a billable/specific code in the Circulatory System chapter (block I50). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM I50.9 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for I50.9

Specialist guidance from the PayerReady Medical Coding Team. Specificity warnings, HCC capture rules, sequencing notes.

HCC capture: document with MEAT each year

I50.9 is a CMS-HCC v28 risk-adjustment code (category 85). To count for the patient Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF), document the diagnosis with MEAT language each calendar year: Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated. A diagnosis on the problem list alone does not satisfy CMS RADV audit standards. Include the diagnosis in the assessment with current status and current treatment plan.

Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms

Clinical terms and conditions classified under I50.9. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.

  • Cardiac, heart or myocardial failure NOS
  • Congestive heart disease
  • Congestive heart failure NOS

Type 2 Excludes

Not included here, the excluded code is not part of I50.9, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. Both codes may be coded together when applicable.

  • fluid overload unrelated to congestive heart failure (E87.70)

Medicare Advantage HCC Impact

CMS-HCC v28 (current)
Category 85
ESRD-HCC
Category 85
RxHCC (Part D)
Category 85

Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate risk adjustment. Missed HCC captures are the #1 revenue leak in Medicare Advantage risk programs.

Medicare LCD Coverage for I50.9

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list I50.9 as a covered diagnosis.

522 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 522 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Frequency of Hemodialysis
Article ID: 55672, Effective: 2022-10-01 00:00:00, 56 covered, 1 non-covered
CPT 90999 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Testing
Article ID: 56826, Effective: , 42 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 83880 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
Article ID: 57552, Effective: 2025-10-30 00:00:00, 213 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 75573 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
Article ID: 57552, Effective: 2025-10-30 00:00:00, 213 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 75572 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
Article ID: 57552, Effective: 2025-10-30 00:00:00, 213 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 75571 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
Article ID: 57552, Effective: 2025-10-30 00:00:00, 213 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 75574 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
Article ID: 57649, Effective: 2023-10-01 00:00:00, 55 covered, 1 non-covered
CPT 83880 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Testing
Article ID: 56605, Effective: 2026-02-15 00:00:00, 117 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 83880 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Pharmacogenomics Testing
Article ID: 58801, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 578 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 81227 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Pharmacogenomics Testing
Article ID: 58801, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 578 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 81328 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing I50.9.

54 policies

3 Aetna

Oxygen - Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
Policy ID: CPB-0002
Color-Flow Doppler Echocardiography and Myocardial Strain Imaging - Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
Policy ID: CPB-0008
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
Policy ID: CPB-0071

2 Cigna

Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide in the Outpatient Setting - (0028)
Policy ID: MM_0028
Transthoracic Echocardiography in Adults - (0510)
Policy ID: MM_0510

5 Medicare

Automatic External Defibrillators - Policy Article
Policy ID: ART-52458
Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography
Policy ID: ART-52850
Billing and Coding: Frequency of Hemodialysis
Policy ID: ART-55354
Billing and Coding: Frequency of Hemodialysis
Policy ID: ART-55672
Billing and Coding: Frequency of Hemodialysis
Policy ID: ART-55675

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with I50.9

Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.

15 linkages
  • 93306 Echocardiography — heart failure, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease Cardiovascular Disease
  • 99205 New patient office visit — complex/high-risk: uncontrolled diabetes, heart failure, COPD exacerbation, cancer, MS, RA, CKD, CAD, recurrent depression, epilepsy, lupus, syncope, cognitive decline Primary Care
  • 99215 Established patient — high complexity: HF exacerbation, COPD exacerbation, cancer management, MS, advanced CKD, uncontrolled diabetes, recurrent syncope, respiratory failure, liver cirrhosis Primary Care
  • 93000 EKG 12-lead — tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitations, HTN, CAD, AFib, arrhythmia, chest pain, syncope, cardiomyopathy, AV block, bundle branch block, SVT, VT, diabetes screening, abnormal EKG Cardiology
  • 93306 Echo with Doppler — heart failure, cardiomyopathy, mitral/aortic/tricuspid valve disease, chest pain, dyspnea, CAD, pulmonary HTN, ASD, VSD, congenital valve Cardiology
  • 93451 Right heart cath — CAD, native vessel disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, unstable angina, MI, heart failure, valvular disease, chest pain Cardiology
  • 93452 Left heart cath — same as right heart cath indications Cardiology
  • 93458 Coronary angiography — CAD, unstable angina, MI, heart failure, chest pain, prior bypass graft evaluation Cardiology
  • 93350 Stress echo — known/suspected CAD, chest pain, angina, abnormal EKG, cardiomyopathy, HF, dyspnea Cardiology
  • 71046 Chest X-ray 2 views — cough, dyspnea, wheezing, chest pain, pneumonia, COPD exacerbation, asthma exacerbation, respiratory failure, lung nodule, pneumothorax, heart failure, hx pneumonia, TB, hypoxemia Radiology

Convert I50.9 to ICD-9-CM

Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
I50.9 4280 10000
I50.9 4289 10000

Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).

ICD-10 I50.9, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code I50.9 billable? +

Yes, I50.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

What other names or terms map to I50.9? +

ICD-10 I50.9 includes: Cardiac, heart or myocardial failure NOS; Congestive heart disease; Congestive heart failure NOS.

What codes are Type 2 Excludes for I50.9? +

Type 2 Excludes (may be coded together when both conditions exist): fluid overload unrelated to congestive heart failure (E87.70)

Does I50.9 affect Medicare Advantage HCC risk adjustment? +

Yes. I50.9 maps to CMS-HCC v28 category 85. Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate Medicare Advantage risk score.

What CPT codes are commonly billed with I50.9? +

Procedures frequently paired with I50.9 include: 93306, 99205, 99215, 93000, 93306.

What ICD-9 codes does I50.9 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, I50.9 maps to ICD-9 codes: 4280, 4289. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

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Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team

Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on June 1, 2026.

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