R05.9 Cough, unspecified
The ICD-10-CM code for Cough, unspecified is R05.9 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.
Classification
- Section
- R00-R09: Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems (R00-R09)
- Category R05
- 7 codes (6 billable)
- FY2026 Status
- Stable since FY2024
Also Known As
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to R05.9:
- Cough (affected) (epidemic) (nervous)
U.S. Hospital Utilization
- An estimated 73,530 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included R05.9 among the documented diagnoses.
- 360 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.
Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.
Official Coding Guidelines
Signs/symptoms w/o definitive COVID-19: symptom codes (+Z20.822)(g) Signs and symptoms without definitive diagnosis of COVID- 19 For patients presenting with any signs/symptoms associated with COVID-19 (such as fever, etc.) but a definitive diagnosis has not been established, assign the appropriate code(s) for each of the presenting signs and symptoms such as: • R05.1, Acute cough, or R05.9, Cough, unspecified • R06.02 Shortness of breath • R50.9 Fever, unspecified If a patient with signs/symptoms associated with COVID-19 also has an actual or suspected contact with or exposure to COVID-19, assign Z20.822, Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19, as an additional code.
Repeated falls vs history of fallingd. Repeated falls Code R29.6, Repeated falls, is for use for encounters when a patient has recently fallen and the reason for the fall is being investigated. Code Z91.81, History of falling, is for use when a patient has fallen in the past and is at risk for future falls. When appropriate, both codes R29.6 and Z91.81 may be assigned together.
Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026