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

ICD-10 R50.9

Billable / Specific

Fever, unspecified

R50
Block
7
Synonyms
721
LCDs
20
Payer Policies
7
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM R50.9

ICD-10-CM code R50.9 represents Fever, unspecified. This is a billable/specific code in the Symptoms, Signs, and Abnormal Findings chapter (block R50). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM R50.9 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms

Clinical terms and conditions classified under R50.9. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.

  • Fever NOS
  • Fever of unknown origin [FUO]
  • Fever with chills
  • Fever with rigors
  • Hyperpyrexia NOS
  • Persistent fever
  • Pyrexia NOS

Medicare LCD Coverage for R50.9

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list R50.9 as a covered diagnosis.

721 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 721 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74170 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74177 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74160 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74178 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74150 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72194 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74176 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72192 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72193 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan for Inflammation and Infection
Article ID: 59318, Effective: 2026-01-22 00:00:00, 85 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT G0235 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing R50.9.

20 policies

2 Cigna

Nucleic Acid Pathogen Testing - (0530)
Policy ID: MM_0530
Transthoracic Echocardiography in Children - (0523)
Policy ID: MM_0523

5 Medicare

Billing and Coding: Zika Virus Testing by PCR and ELISA Methods
Policy ID: ART-55326
Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Policy ID: ART-56421
Billing and Coding: Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging
Policy ID: ART-56476
Billing and Coding: Echocardiography
Policy ID: ART-56625
Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
Policy ID: ART-56781

4 Aetna

Cholecystokinin Cholescintigraphy
Policy ID: CPB-0266
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
Policy ID: CPB-0376
Influenza Rapid Diagnostic Tests
Policy ID: CPB-0476
Capsule Endoscopy
Policy ID: CPB-0588

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with R50.9

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

7 linkages
  • 99202 New patient office visit — fever, headache, abdominal pain, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, dizziness, limb pain, nausea, routine exam, URI, UTI, pharyngitis, otitis, chest pain, weight loss Primary Care
  • 99203 New patient office visit — common complaints plus chronic conditions: HTN, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, asthma, GERD, back pain, migraine, tachycardia, prediabetes Primary Care
  • 99212 Established patient — URI, UTI, pharyngitis, otitis, dermatitis, rash, viral infection, cellulitis, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, ankle sprain Primary Care
  • 85025 CBC with differential — anemia, iron deficiency, fatigue, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukemia, lymphoma, abnormal labs, routine exam, screening, fever, elevated WBC Laboratory
  • 81001 Urinalysis with microscopy — UTI, cystitis, dysuria, urinary frequency, abnormal urine, pyelonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, fever, kidney stone Laboratory
  • 99281 ED visit level 1 — fever, cough, URI, abdominal pain, dizziness, laceration, ankle sprain, nausea, minor injury Emergency Medicine
  • 99282 ED visit level 2 — same as level 1 with low complexity MDM Emergency Medicine

Convert R50.9 to ICD-9-CM

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

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
R50.9 78060 10000

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

ICD-10 R50.9, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code R50.9 billable? +

Yes, R50.9 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 R50.9? +

ICD-10 R50.9 includes: Fever NOS; Fever of unknown origin [FUO]; Fever with chills, and 4 more clinical synonyms.

What CPT codes are commonly billed with R50.9? +

Procedures frequently paired with R50.9 include: 99202, 99203, 99212, 85025, 81001.

What ICD-9 codes does R50.9 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, R50.9 maps to ICD-9 codes: 78060. 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 May 31, 2026.

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