I10 ICD-10-CM Code: Essential (primary) hypertension
I10 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) / Hypertensive diseases (I10-I1A)
I10
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceEssential (primary) hypertension
High blood pressure that develops without an identifiable secondary cause, also known as primary hypertension. This is the most common type of high blood pressure.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
HistoricalHistorical
Not used for CY2026 payment
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
MappedHCC 187
Code-level coefficient reference
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialNo inclusion terms are included in this display for I10. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 2
Official- essential (primary) hypertension involving vessels of brain (I60-I69)
- essential (primary) hypertension involving vessels of eye (H35.0-)
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- transient cerebral ischemic attacks and related syndromes (G45.-)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
- hypertensive disease complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O10-O11, O13-O16)Inherited from I00-I99, I10-I1A
Related Codes
No related codes are included in this display for I10. Check the Code Book for the complete code path.
Includes
Official- high blood pressure
- hypertension (arterial) (benign) (essential) (malignant) (primary) (systemic)
Excludes 1
Official- hypertensive disease complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O10-O11, O13-O16)
- neonatal hypertension (P29.2)Inherited from I10-I1A
- primary pulmonary hypertension (I27.0)Inherited from I10-I1A
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for I10. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
Official- code to identify:Inherited from I10-I1A
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)Inherited from I10-I1A
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)Inherited from I10-I1A
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)Inherited from I10-I1A
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)Inherited from I10-I1A
- tobacco use (Z72.0)Inherited from I10-I1A
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for I10. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →
Is I10 an HCC code?
I10 is not in the CMS-HCC V28 or V24 community payment model. I10 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 187 (Hypertension)); the applicable result needs member context.
- Code
- I10
- Description
- Essential (primary) hypertension
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF reference coefficient
- —
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.
Work I10 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT review for I10
For I10, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Coder workflow notes
Get the V28 mapping + MEAT cheat sheet
One printable reference: check representative V28 mappings and the documentation reminders your note needs. Free, no card.
Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.
What This Code Means
I10 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for essential (primary) hypertension. High blood pressure that develops without an identifiable secondary cause, also known as primary hypertension. This is the most common type of high blood pressure. I10 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the circulatory system (i00-i99), within the section covering hypertensive diseases (i10-i1a).
I10 has no mapping under the CMS-HCC V28 or V24 community payment models. I10 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 187 (Hypertension)); the applicable result needs member context. Do not assign V28 risk adjustment value from this page; verify the applicable model and payment year before using this code for risk adjustment.
I10 is used when hypertension is documented without mention of heart disease, kidney disease, or secondary causes.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for I10 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of hypertension diagnosis (not just an elevated blood pressure reading)
- ✓Current blood pressure reading
- ✓Assessment of whether hypertension is controlled or uncontrolled
- ✓Current antihypertensive medication regimen
- ✓Evaluation for end-organ damage (cardiac, renal, cerebrovascular)
- ✓If heart disease or chronic kidney disease is present, document whether the conditions are related to hypertension
Includes
- high blood pressure
- hypertension (arterial) (benign) (essential) (malignant) (primary) (systemic)
Excludes 1, Do NOT code together
Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately
Commonly Confused Codes
- •I11.0: Hypertensive heart disease with heart failure (use when hypertension and heart failure coexist: per ICD-10 guidelines, a causal relationship is assumed)
- •I11.9: Hypertensive heart disease without heart failure (use when hypertension coexists with heart disease)
- •I12.0 / I12.9: Hypertensive chronic kidney disease (use when hypertension and CKD coexist: causal relationship is assumed)
- •I13.x: Hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease (use when all three conditions coexist)
- •I15.x: Secondary hypertension (use when hypertension has an identifiable cause)
- •R03.0: Elevated blood pressure reading (use for an incidental finding, not a diagnosis of hypertension)