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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

R06.03Acute respiratory distress

✓ Billable / specific

R06.03 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for acute respiratory distress. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Looking up by condition? See ICD-10 code for Respiratory distress.

Code last changed in FY2018 (effective October 1, 2017). Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About R06.03

R06.03 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute respiratory distress. It belongs to category R06 (abnormalities of breathing), block R00-R09 (symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems) and chapter 18 (symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within R06.0 (dyspnea), R06.03 is specifically for acute respiratory distress. Related codes cover unspecified (R06.00), Orthopnea (R06.01), Shortness of breath (R06.02) and other forms of dyspnea (R06.09).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 204 (Respiratory Signs and Symptoms, relative weight 0.821), in MDC 04 (Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It was added in FY2018, effective October 1, 2017.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 518.82 (other pulmonary insufficiency, not elsewhere classified) and 770.89 (other respiratory problems after birth).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to R06.03.

› From R06.0 Dyspnea
Excludes1
  • tachypnea NOS (R06.82)
  • transient tachypnea of newborn (P22.1)
› From R06 Abnormalities of breathing
Excludes1
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome (J80)
  • respiratory arrest (R09.2)
  • respiratory arrest of newborn (P28.81)
  • respiratory distress syndrome of newborn (P22.-)
  • respiratory failure (J96.-)
  • respiratory failure of newborn (P28.5)

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.

Alphabetic index entries

2 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to R06.03.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 04 · Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 518.82Other pulmonary insufficiency, not elsewhere classifiedapproximate
  • 770.89Other respiratory problems after birthapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2018 (effective 10/1/2017): Added
  • No changes since FY2018.

Common questions about R06.03

Is R06.03 billable?

Yes. R06.03 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can R06.03 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict R06.03 as a principal diagnosis.

Is R06.03 a CC or MCC?

No. R06.03 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does R06.03 group to?

R06.03 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 204 (Respiratory Signs and Symptoms). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for R06.03?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map R06.03 to ICD-9-CM 518.82 and 770.89.