ICD-10 R53.81
Billable / SpecificOther malaise
About ICD-10-CM R53.81
ICD-10-CM code R53.81 represents Other malaise. This is a billable/specific code in the Symptoms, Signs, and Abnormal Findings chapter (block R53). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM R53.81 became effective on October 1, 2025.
Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms
Clinical terms and conditions classified under R53.81. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.
- Chronic debility
- Debility NOS
- General physical deterioration
- Malaise NOS
- Nervous debility
Type 1 Excludes
Pure excludes, these codes can never be coded together with R53.81. The conditions are mutually exclusive (e.g., congenital vs acquired forms).
- age-related physical debility (R54)
Medicare LCD Coverage for R53.81
Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list R53.81 as a covered diagnosis.
Showing top 10 of 164 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.
Commercial Payer Coverage
Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing R53.81.
4 Aetna
3 Cigna
5 Medicare
CPT Codes Commonly Billed with R53.81
Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.
We don't have CPT pairings indexed for this specific code yet. Use the CPT search above to find common procedures, or check your payer's published medical policy for code-specific guidance.
Convert R53.81 to ICD-9-CM
Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.
| ICD-10 | ICD-9 | Mapping Flags |
|---|---|---|
| R53.81 | 78079 | 10000 |
| R53.81 | 7993 | 10000 |
Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).
Codes Adjacent To R53.81
Other codes in section R50-R69 (General symptoms and signs).
ICD-10 R53.81, Billing FAQ
Is ICD-10 code R53.81 billable? +
Yes, R53.81 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 R53.81? +
ICD-10 R53.81 includes: Chronic debility; Debility NOS; General physical deterioration, and 2 more clinical synonyms.
What codes are Type 1 Excludes for R53.81? +
Type 1 Excludes (never code together with R53.81): age-related physical debility (R54)
What ICD-9 codes does R53.81 map to? +
Per CMS GEMs, R53.81 maps to ICD-9 codes: 78079, 7993. 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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