Is ICD-10-CM code R50 billable?

No, R50 (Fever of other and unknown origin) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code. It must be coded to a more specific subcategory before it can be used for reimbursement.

What chapter does ICD-10-CM code R50 belong to?

R50 belongs to Chapter 18 of the ICD-10-CM tabular list: R00–R99 (Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings).

R50Not billable, use a more specific code below

Fever of other and unknown origin

In General symptoms and signs (R50-R69), chapter 18: Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings

6 billable codes under R50: none are a CC or MCC; none map to an HCC.

Instructional notes

Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code

chills without fever (R68.83)
febrile convulsions (R56.0-)
fever of unknown origin during labor (O75.2)
fever of unknown origin in newborn (P81.9)
hypothermia due to illness (R68.0)
malignant hyperthermia due to anesthesia (T88.3)
puerperal pyrexia NOS (O86.4)

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)

Read Section I.C.18 (page 75), 1 more topics

All codes under R50

R50 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.

R50 MS-DRG

As the principal diagnosis, all 6 billable codes under R50 group to MS-DRG 864 (v44.0).

DRG 864 Fever and Inflammatory Conditions

About the condition

Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.

Fever

A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. A normal temperature can vary from person to person, but it is usually around 98.6 °F (37 °C). A fever is not a disease. It is usually a sign that your body is trying to fight an illness or infection.

Code history

Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.