Unspecified urinary incontinence
In Symptoms and signs involving the genitourinary system (R30-R39), chapter 18: Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings
- R32 is an unspecified code: use it only when the record doesn't document anything more specific. If the record has more detail, check the other codes under R30-R39 below.
- As a secondary diagnosis it is not a CC or MCC, so it doesn't raise the MS-DRG payment.
- Doesn't count toward a Medicare Advantage risk score (no HCC in V28).
- AHRQ's Chronic Condition Indicator classes it as chronic: expected to last 12 months or longer and to limit daily life or need ongoing care.
Also indexed as: Enuresis; Incontinence; Incontinence, urethral sphincter; Incontinence, urine; Insufficiency, urethral sphincter; Urine, incontinence; Weak, bladder
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Instructional notes
Includes: conditions that are coded here
- Enuresis NOS
Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code
- functional urinary incontinence (R39.81)
- nonorganic enuresis (F98.0)
- stress incontinence and other specified urinary incontinence (N39.3-N39.4-)
- urinary incontinence associated with cognitive impairment (R39.81)
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
Covers when to report symptom, sign, and abnormal finding codes (R00-R99), plus specific rules for falls, coma scales, non-infectious SIRS, death NOS, and NIHSS scores.
- Use of symptom codes (page 75)
- Use of a symptom code with a definitive diagnosis code (page 75)
- Combination codes that include symptoms (page 75)
- Repeated falls (page 76)
- Coma (page 76)
- Functional quadriplegia (page 76)
- SIRS due to Non-Infectious Process (page 77)
- Death NOS (page 77)
Other codes under R30-R39
Symptoms and signs involving the genitourinary system (R30-R39)
R32 MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, R32 groups to MS-DRG 695 or 696 (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.
Related conditions
Grouped by AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR), which sorts every diagnosis code into clinically meaningful categories.
R32 is in Urinary incontinence (GEN008, its default category), with 15 codes. Others in it:
- F98.0 Enuresis not due to a substance or known physiological condition
- F98.1 Encopresis not due to a substance or known physiological condition
- N39.3 Stress incontinence (female) (male)
- N39.41 Urge incontinence
- N39.42 Incontinence without sensory awareness
- N39.43 Post-void dribbling
- N39.44 Nocturnal enuresis
- N39.45 Continuous leakage
Medicare coverage articles listing R32
These 6 Medicare billing and coding articles list R32 as a diagnosis that supports medical necessity for the services they cover. From the CMS Medicare Coverage Database; check your own contractor's article before billing.
Other codes that refer to R32
Notes on these codes point to R32.
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of bladder control, or being unable to control urination. It is a common condition. It can range from being a minor problem to something that greatly affects your daily life. In any case, it can get better with proper treatment.
Read more about urinary incontinence on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Legacy crosswalk from the CMS General Equivalence Mappings (last updated 2018).
- 788.30 Urinary incontinence, unspecified