ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
R52Pain, unspecified
R52 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for pain, unspecified. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.
Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS, effective October 1, 2026. Updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About R52
R52 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pain, unspecified. It belongs to block R50-R69 (general symptoms and signs) 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.
Don't report R52 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: acute and chronic pain, not elsewhere classified (G89.-), localized pain, unspecified type - code to pain by site, such as:, abdomen pain (R10.-), back pain (M54.9) and 16 more.
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 947 (Signs and Symptoms with MCC, relative weight 1.261) and DRG 948 (Signs and Symptoms without MCC, relative weight 0.7835), in MDC 23 (Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services), 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 has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 338.19 (other acute pain) and 780.96 (generalized pain).
Coding notes
- Acute pain NOS
- Generalized pain NOS
- Pain NOS
- acute and chronic pain, not elsewhere classified (G89.-)
- localized pain, unspecified type - code to pain by site, such as:
- abdomen pain (R10.-)
- back pain (M54.9)
- breast pain (N64.4)
- chest pain (R07.1-R07.9)
- ear pain (H92.0-)
- eye pain (H57.1)
- headache (R51.9)
- joint pain (M25.5-)
- limb pain (M79.6-)
- lumbar region pain (M54.5-)
- pelvic and perineal pain (R10.2-)
- shoulder pain (M25.51-)
- spine pain (M54.-)
- throat pain (R07.0)
- tongue pain (K14.6)
- tooth pain (K08.8)
- renal colic (N23)
- pain disorders exclusively related to psychological factors (F45.41)
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to R52.
Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.
Alphabetic index entries
3 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to R52.
Codes whose notes reference R52
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 23 · Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about R52
Is R52 billable?
- Yes. R52 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can R52 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict R52 as a principal diagnosis.
Is R52 a CC or MCC?
- No. R52 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.
What DRG does R52 group to?
- R52 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 947 (Signs and Symptoms with MCC) and MS-DRG 948 (Signs and Symptoms without MCC). 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 R52?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map R52 to ICD-9-CM 338.19 and 780.96.