ICD10BillableValid for clinical use
ICD-10 Code I15.9: Secondary hypertension, unspecified
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026
What is this code?
ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99).
đź“‹Clinical overview
This ICD-10 code is commonly used when documentation describes elevated blood pressure or hypertensive disease. The most accurate code depends on whether the condition is primary, secondary, or linked with heart or kidney involvement.
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents secondary hypertension, unspecified in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.
What it does not mean
- A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
- A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
đź©şClinical context
When commonly used
- Primary care, cardiology, nephrology, and pre-operative documentation where blood pressure disease is part of the active problem list.
- Chronic disease follow-up and risk-adjustment workflows where hypertension status affects longitudinal care planning.
Common management context
- Clinical follow-up often includes blood-pressure measurement, medication review, kidney-risk assessment, and cardiovascular risk management.
- Documentation becomes more specific when the chart links hypertension with heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or another secondary cause.
- Specialist context already linked on this page includes Cardiologist, General Physician.
🔍Key distinctions
Important notes
- ICD-10 hypertension coding is often broader than the actual treatment plan; the exact code depends on whether associated heart or kidney disease is documented.
- Secondary hypertension and hypertensive heart or kidney disease generally require more specific codes than uncomplicated essential hypertension.
Related codes to consider
I15.0Renovascular hypertension
Related hypertension-family ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when heart, kidney, or secondary-cause detail is present.
I15.1Hypertension secondary to other renal disorders
Related hypertension-family ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when heart, kidney, or secondary-cause detail is present.
I15.2Hypertension secondary to endocrine disorders
Related hypertension-family ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when heart, kidney, or secondary-cause detail is present.
I15.8Other secondary hypertension
Related hypertension-family ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when heart, kidney, or secondary-cause detail is present.
Code hierarchy
chapter
9Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
block
I10-I1AHypertensive diseases
category
I15Secondary hypertension
currentI15
Where you may see this code
You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.
Related specialists
CardiologistGeneral Physician
Related codes
Sibling codes
Coverage-related procedures and services
CPT 93320high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSED WAVE AND/OR CONTINUOUS WAVE WITH SPECTRAL DISPLAY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING); COMPLETE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93321high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSED WAVE AND/OR CONTINUOUS WAVE WITH SPECTRAL DISPLAY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING); FOLLOW-UP OR LIMITED STUDY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93306high
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, TRANSTHORACIC, REAL-TIME WITH IMAGE DOCUMENTATION (2D), INCLUDES M-MODE RECORDING, WHEN PERFORMED, COMPLETE, WITH SPECTRAL DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, AND WITH COLOR FLOW DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93307high
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, TRANSTHORACIC, REAL-TIME WITH IMAGE DOCUMENTATION (2D), INCLUDES M-MODE RECORDING, WHEN PERFORMED, COMPLETE, WITHOUT SPECTRAL OR COLOR DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93308high
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, TRANSTHORACIC, REAL-TIME WITH IMAGE DOCUMENTATION (2D), INCLUDES M-MODE RECORDING, WHEN PERFORMED, FOLLOW-UP OR LIMITED STUDY
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 43845high
GASTRIC RESTRICTIVE PROCEDURE WITH PARTIAL GASTRECTOMY, PYLORUS-PRESERVING DUODENOILEOSTOMY AND ILEOILEOSTOMY (50 TO 100 CM COMMON CHANNEL) TO LIMIT ABSORPTION (BILIOPANCREATIC DIVERSION WITH DUODENAL SWITCH)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
Mapped diagnoses and classifications
SNOMED_CT 194785008high
Benign secondary hypertension
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 89242004high
Malignant secondary hypertension
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 74451002high
Secondary diastolic hypertension
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 31992008high
Secondary hypertension
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Legacy and official ICD code match exactly.
Legacy codes
I15.9
Common synonyms
Secondary hypertension, unspecifiedSecondary hypertension
Frequently asked questions
About this content
This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.