H35.0 vs I10
H35.0 (Background retinopathy and retinal vascular changes) compared with I10 (Essential (primary) hypertension), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. I10 carries an Excludes2 note covering H35.0: “essential (primary) hypertension involving vessels of eye (H35.0-)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| H35.0Background retinopathy and retinal vascular changes | I10Essential (primary) hypertension | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | H00-H59 — Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59) | I00-I99 — Diseases of the Circulatory System (I00-I99) |
| Definition | Background retinopathy and retinal vascular changes is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (H35.0). | Essential (primary) hypertension is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (I10). |
| Includes | — | high blood pressure hypertension (arterial) (benign) (essential) (malignant) (primary) (systemic) |
| Use additional code | — | code to identify: exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22) history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources