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R06.02 ICD-10-CM Code: Shortness of breath

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

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FY 2026 Apr update / Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) / Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems (R00-R09)

R06.02

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Shortness of breath

A feeling of not getting enough air or difficulty breathing, commonly experienced during exertion or at rest.

CMS-HCC V28

N/A

Not mapped

CMS-HCC V24

N/A

Not mapped

ACA/HHS

N/A

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

N/A

Not mapped

RXHCC

N/A

Not mapped

Code Book Path

Official
R06Abnormalities of breathing
R06.0Dyspnea
R06.02Shortness of breath

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for R06.02 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for R06.02 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official
R06.00Dyspnea, unspecified
R06.01Orthopnea
R06.03Acute respiratory distress
R06.09Other forms of dyspnea

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for R06.02 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official
  • tachypnea NOS (R06.82)
  • transient tachypnea of newborn (P22.1)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for R06.02 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for R06.02 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for R06.02 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Clarify whether shortness of breath is exertional, at rest, or both to support clinical documentation
This is a common symptom code; ensure it's not masking an undiagnosed underlying condition

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is R06.02 an HCC code?

No. R06.02 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.

Code
R06.02
Description
Shortness of breath
HCC (V28)
No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

Coder workflow notes

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This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).

What This Code Means

R06.02 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for shortness of breath. A feeling of not getting enough air or difficulty breathing, commonly experienced during exertion or at rest. R06.02 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (r00-r99), within the section covering symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems (r00-r09).

R06.02 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

Clarify whether shortness of breath is exertional, at rest, or both to support clinical documentation.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for R06.02 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Clarify whether shortness of breath is exertional, at rest, or both to support clinical documentation
  • This is a common symptom code; ensure it's not masking an undiagnosed underlying condition

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work R06.02 in HCC Buddy

Open R06.02 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 7 days to try everything, no card required.