I27.20
BillablePulmonary hypertension, unspecified
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 226 — Heart Failure, Specified
0.000V24HCC 85 — Congestive Heart Failure
0.368ESRDHCC 85 — Congestive Heart Failure
0.000RxHCCHCC 184 — Pulmonary Hypertension, Other
0.000What This Code Means
High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs when the specific cause is not identified or documented.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when the type of pulmonary hypertension cannot be determined; always investigate for secondary causes first
- •This is a less specific code; consider querying the provider if additional clinical information is available to assign a more specific I27.2x code
Clinical Significance
Unspecified pulmonary hypertension indicates elevated pulmonary artery pressures without documented etiology. While clinically significant, the lack of specificity limits accurate risk stratification. This code should prompt a query to determine the underlying cause for more precise coding and treatment planning.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension
- ✓Evidence of elevated pulmonary artery pressure (echocardiogram, right heart catheterization)
- ✓Documentation that the specific type or cause has not been determined
- ✓Current symptoms and functional status
- ✓Treatment plan for pulmonary hypertension
Commonly Confused Codes
I27.0 — Primary pulmonary hypertension; use when secondary causes have been excludedI27.21 — Secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension; use when a secondary cause is identifiedI27.22 — Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease; specific secondary causeI27.23 — Pulmonary hypertension due to lung diseases and hypoxia; specific secondary cause
Code Hierarchy
└I27Other pulmonary heart diseases└I27.2Other secondary pulmonary hypertension└I27.20Pulmonary hypertension, unspecified
└I27.20Pulmonary hypertension, unspecified