R29.7 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score

The ICD-10-CM code for National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score is R29.7 (FY2026). It is a non-billable category code — select a more specific code below for claims.

Classification

Chapter

18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Section

R25-R29: Symptoms and signs involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems (R25-R29)

Category R29

68 codes (57 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to R29.7:

• Score, NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score

Official Coding Guidelines

NIHSS (R29.7--) with acute stroke (I60-I63); sequence after stroke code(s)

i. NIHSS Stroke Scale The NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) codes (R29.7- -) can be used in conjunction with acute stroke codes (I60-I63) to identify the patient's neurological status and the severity of the stroke. The stroke scale codes should be sequenced after the acute stroke diagnosis code(s). At a minimum, report the initial score documented. If desired, a facility may choose to capture multiple stroke scale scores. See Section I.B.14. for NIHSS stroke scale documentation by clinicians other than patient's provider

Repeated falls vs history of falling

d. 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

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool