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I45.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Conduction disorder, unspecified

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
2 inclusion terms

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 308 — CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 05)
  • MS-DRG 309 — CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC (MDC 05)
  • MS-DRG 310 — CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 05)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for I45.9 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Heart block NOS
  • Stokes-Adams syndrome

Coder workflow for I45.9

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code I45.9

  1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, I45.9 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

    ReviewI45.0, I45.2, I45.3, I45.4, I45.5, I45.6, I45.8

    See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

  2. Laterality is coded in this family. Confirm the side documented — right, left, or bilateral — and select the matching code (this page’s code: unspecified). The unspecified-side code applies only when the record states no side. Laterality is assigned from the documented side; where a bilateral code exists and both sides are documented, it is used instead of two unilateral codes (Guidelines I.B.13).

    See the relationships section · Guide: Laterality coding →

Choose the right path

  1. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
    Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
    No → Continue — I45.9 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.

    ReviewI45.0, I45.2, I45.3, I45.4, I45.5, I45.6, I45.8

  2. Is the side documented?
    Yes → Select the code for the documented side (or the bilateral code when both sides are documented and one exists).
    No → Use the unspecified-side code only when the record states no side; a query is the alternative.

Consider I45.9. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
Laterality
Right, left or bilateral as documented; unspecified only when the record states no side (Guidelines I.B.13).
Any detail beyond this code’s title
What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: The provider documents the condition in the terms of this code’s title and records no further detail.

Coding question: Is a more specific sibling code supportable?

Path: Review the specific siblings in this subcategory and what each requires the record to state.

Reason: A more specific code needs documentation of the distinguishing element; without it the unspecified code is appropriate, and a provider query is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

ReviewI45.0, I45.2, I45.3, I45.4, I45.5, I45.6, I45.8

Documentation: The record documents the condition on one side only.

Coding question: Which code in this family applies?

Path: Select the sibling code for the documented side.

Reason: Laterality is assigned from the documented side; the unspecified-side code is for records that state no side (Guidelines I.B.13).

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Code Overview

Conduction disorder, unspecified is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (I45.9).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (22)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name I45.9 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 2 Excludes1 notes across 2 chapters: I45.5 — Other specified heart block, R55 — Syncope and collapse.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 1 Code Also instruction: H49.81 — Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

These codes suggest coding this condition alongside when both are present.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 308 (MDC 05), DRG 309 (MDC 05), DRG 310 (MDC 05).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):CIR016 — Conduction disorders (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Conduction disorders).

I44.30 — Unspecified atrioventricular block, I44.39 — Other atrioventricular block, I44.4 — Left anterior fascicular block, I44.5 — Left posterior fascicular block, I44.60 — Unspecified fascicular block, I44.69 — Other fascicular block, I44.7 — Left bundle-branch block, unspecified, I45.0 — Right fascicular block, I45.10 — Unspecified right bundle-branch block, I45.19 — Other right bundle-branch block, I45.2 — Bifascicular block, I45.3 — Trifascicular block, I45.4 — Nonspecific intraventricular block, I45.5 — Other specified heart block, I45.6 — Pre-excitation syndrome, I45.81 — Long QT syndrome, I45.89 — Other specified conduction disorders, Z45.010 — Encounter for checking and testing of cardiac pacemaker pulse generator [battery], Z45.018 — Encounter for adjustment and management of other part of cardiac pacemaker, Z95.0 — Presence of cardiac pacemaker, +3 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Arrhythmia”, “Defect, defective”, “Block, blocked”, …; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

I44.0 — Atrioventricular block, first degree (heart, first degree), I44.1 — Atrioventricular block, second degree (Mobitz), I44.2 — Atrioventricular block, complete (third degree), I44.30 — Unspecified atrioventricular block (atrioventricular), I44.39 — Other atrioventricular block (atrioventricular, specified NEC), I44.4 — Left anterior fascicular block (fascicular, anterior), I44.5 — Left posterior fascicular block (fascicular, posterior), I44.60 — Unspecified fascicular block (fascicular), I44.69 — Other fascicular block (fascicular, specified NEC), I44.7 — Left bundle-branch block, unspecified (bundle-branch, left), I47.0 — Re-entry ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular re-entry), I49.49 — Other premature depolarization (extrasystolic), I49.89 — Other specified cardiac arrhythmias not elsewhere classified (sinus), I49.9 — Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified, I51.0 — Cardiac septal defect, acquired (septal NOS, acquired), I81 — Portal vein thrombosis (portal), I82.0 — Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic vein), I82.90 — Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified vein (vein NOS), I99.9 — Unspecified disorder of circulatory system (vascular), J84.10 — Pulmonary fibrosis, unspecified (alveolocapillary), +160 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Iron Panel

Contextual Map

Every relationship of I45.9 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run I45.9 with these 3 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Code Also instructions

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 05 — Diseases and Disorders of the Circulatory System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Circulatory System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 17,209 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries (22)

  • Adams-Stokesdisease or syndrome (-Morgagni)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Arrhythmia (auricle)(cardiac)(juvenile)(nodal)(reflex)(supraventricular)(transitory)(ventricle), block[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Attack, attacks, Adams-Stokes[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Attack, attacks, Stokes-Adams[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Block, blocked, arrhythmic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Block, blocked, cardiac[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Block, blocked, conduction[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Block, blocked, heart[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • and 14 more

Nearest codes (13)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "I45.9 — Conduction disorder, unspecified." ICD-10-CM FY2026. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/i45.9-conduction-disorder-unspecified

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Conduction disorder, unspecified

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to I45.9 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the I45 family