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I15

Non-Billable (Header)

Secondary hypertension

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)

What This Code Means

I15 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for secondary hypertension. I15 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the circulatory system (i00-i99), within the section covering hypertensive diseases (i10-i1a).

Header codes like I15 cannot be reported on claims directly — they organize child codes that share clinical context but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at I15's child codes and select the one that matches the patient's documented presentation, since payers reject header codes submitted as the primary diagnosis. For risk adjustment workflows, header codes never contribute to a Medicare Advantage member's RAF score on their own; only billable child codes that happen to map to a payment HCC affect risk-adjusted plan payments.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for I15 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

  • postprocedural hypertension (I97.3)

Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately

  • secondary hypertension involving vessels of brain (I60-I69)
  • secondary hypertension involving vessels of eye (H35.0-)

Code Also

  • underlying condition

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

I15Secondary hypertension
I15Secondary hypertension

More on I15

Referenced in blog posts

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