I73.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified
I73.9 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools
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FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) / Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries (I70-I79)
I73.9
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidancePeripheral vascular disease, unspecified
This code describes a disease affecting the blood vessels outside the heart and brain, but the specific type or location is not documented. It indicates poor circulation in the arms, legs, or other peripheral areas.
Buddy Insight
Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified, is a commonly used but nonspecific code that indicates arterial insufficiency of the extremities without further characterization.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
HistoricalHistorical
Not used for CY2026 payment
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 108
Code-level coefficient reference
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Intermittent claudication
- Peripheral angiopathy NOS
- Spasm of artery
Excludes 2
Official- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- transient cerebral ischemic attacks and related syndromes (G45.-)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- chilblains (T69.1)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- frostbite (T33-T34)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- immersion hand or foot (T69.0-)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
- spasm of cerebral artery (G45.9)Inherited from I00-I99, I73
Related Codes
Includes
OfficialNo Includes notes are included in this display for I73.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 1
Official- atherosclerosis of the extremities (I70.2--I70.7-)
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for I73.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
OfficialNo Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for I73.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for I73.9. 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 I73.9 an HCC code?
I73.9 has no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model. I73.9 has a separate mapping under the CMS-HCC ESRD model (HCC 108 (Vascular Disease)); the applicable result needs member context.
- Code
- I73.9
- Description
- Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified
- 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 I73.9 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT review for I73.9
For I73.9, 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
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What This Code Means
I73.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for peripheral vascular disease, unspecified. This code describes a disease affecting the blood vessels outside the heart and brain, but the specific type or location is not documented. It indicates poor circulation in the arms, legs, or other peripheral areas. I73.9 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the circulatory system (i00-i99), within the section covering diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries (i70-i79).
I73.9 has no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model. I73.9 has a separate mapping under the CMS-HCC ESRD model (HCC 108 (Vascular Disease)); 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.
Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified, PVD without specification of atherosclerotic vs other etiology, or without specific vessel or symptom detail. The least specific PVD code.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for I73.9 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified, PVD without specification of atherosclerotic vs other etiology, or without specific vessel or symptom detail. The least specific PVD code.
- •Prefer I70.2xx when atherosclerosis is documented. I73.9 is a fallback for vasospastic or other non-atherosclerotic PVD, or when etiology is truly unclear.
- •Query for atherosclerotic etiology whenever possible, but note the I70.2 family only risk-adjusts when rest pain (HCC 264) or ulceration/gangrene (HCC 263) is documented; claudication and unspecified atherosclerosis carry no V28 HCC either.
Clinical Significance
Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified, is a commonly used but nonspecific code that indicates arterial insufficiency of the extremities without further characterization. While it captures vascular disease for risk adjustment, it represents a missed opportunity for more precise coding. The prevalence of this condition in elderly populations makes it a frequently encountered diagnosis in risk adjustment reviews.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of peripheral vascular disease diagnosis
- ✓Clinical findings (diminished pulses, claudication, rest pain, skin changes)
- ✓Vascular studies if performed (ankle-brachial index, duplex ultrasound)
- ✓Affected extremities
- ✓Severity assessment (claudication distance, Fontaine or Rutherford classification)
- ✓Treatment plan (exercise, pharmacotherapy, revascularization consideration)
Commonly Confused Codes
- •I70.2xx: Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities: more specific atherosclerotic disease codes with severity staging
- •I73.89: Other specified peripheral vascular diseases: use when a named condition is documented
- •I87.2: Venous insufficiency (chronic)(peripheral): venous disease, not arterial
- •I73.1: Thromboangiitis obliterans: specific inflammatory vascular disease