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R06.89 ICD-10-CM Code: Other abnormalities of breathing

Compare with another code for R06.89Check this code on a claim

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

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
2 inclusion terms · 6 Excludes1

Billable · FY2027A valid, specific ICD-10-CM code, reportable for dates of service in FY2027.

What you need to know

Source: CMS/NCHS Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes, quoted. From the CMS/NCHS tabular list for the release in force. A note the category or block publishes applies to this code too, and is marked with where it comes from.

Excludes1from R06Not reported with this code unless documented as unrelated
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome (J80)
  • respiratory arrest (R09.2)
  • respiratory arrest of newborn (P28.81)
  • respiratory distress syndrome of newborn (P22.-)

+2 more in Instructions

IncludesWhat this code covers
  • Breath-holding (spells)
  • Sighing

Where it sits Source: CMS/NCHS

Under:Chapter 18: Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere ClassifiedR00-R09 Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systemsR06 Abnormalities of breathingR06.8 Other abnormalities of breathing

Most relevant related codes MedCoder-derived

Read off the official notes above and this code’s own position in the tabular list. Which to report is a documentation question; Compare shows the two side by side.

CompareCheck ClaimView Related Codes

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 v44, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 204 — RESPIRATORY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS (MDC 04)

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 R06.89 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Notes without a marker are published on R06.89 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Breath-holding (spells)
  • Sighing

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from R06

Coder workflow for R06.89

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

Before you code R06.89

  1. Check whether an established diagnosis that explains this sign or symptom is documented. If one is, review whether the documented diagnosis changes the coding pathway: a symptom that is integral to a confirmed diagnosis is not reported separately, while one not routinely associated with it may be. Signs and symptoms are reported when no definitive diagnosis is established (Guidelines I.B.4, I.B.5, I.B.6, I.C.18.b).

    Guide: Symptom code vs confirmed diagnosis →

  2. “Other” (NEC) means the condition is specified in the record but no dedicated code captures it. Confirm the documented form is not one a sibling code names before settling on R06.89; if the record states no specifics at all, the unspecified sibling applies instead. “Other” codes are for documented conditions the classification gives no specific code; “unspecified” codes are for records lacking the detail (Guidelines I.A.9.a, I.A.9.b).

    ReviewR06.83

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

  3. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with R06.89. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Is an established diagnosis that explains this sign or symptom documented?
    Yes → Review whether the documented diagnosis changes the coding pathway: a symptom integral to it is not reported separately.
    No → Continue — the sign or symptom code stands when no definitive diagnosis is established.
  2. Does the documentation support a condition named in R06.89’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewJ80, R09.2, P28.81, P22, J96, P28.5

Consider R06.89. 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).
Any detail beyond this code’s title
What the record states that a more specific code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting R06.89(6 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with R06.89: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareJ80, R09.2, P28.81, P22, J96, P28.5

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

Coding decision scenarios

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

Documentation: The sign or symptom is documented, and the same record establishes a diagnosis that routinely includes it.

Coding question: Is R06.89 reported in addition to the diagnosis?

Path: Review the documented diagnosis and whether the classification treats this finding as integral to it.

Reason: Signs and symptoms integral to a confirmed diagnosis are not coded separately; those not routinely associated with it may be reported when present (Guidelines I.B.5, I.B.6, I.C.18.b).

Documentation: Both the condition R06.89 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewJ80, R09.2, P28.81, P22, J96, P28.5

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.

Don’t confuse R06.89 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of R06.89 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • J80— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of acute respiratory distress syndrome moves the case to J80; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: R06.89 vs J80 →

  • R09.2— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of respiratory arrest moves the case to R09.2; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: R06.89 vs R09.2 →

  • P28.81— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of respiratory arrest of newborn moves the case to P28.81; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: R06.89 vs P28.81 →

  • P22— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of respiratory distress syndrome of newborn moves the case to P22; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: R06.89 vs P22 →

  • J96— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of respiratory failure moves the case to J96; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: R06.89 vs J96 →

  • P28.5— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of respiratory failure of newborn moves the case to P28.5; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: R06.89 vs P28.5 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Coding context

Guidelines, coding notes, decision aids, relationships (with MS-DRG and CCSR classification), hierarchy, HCC, coverage and the context map: what a coder reaches for after the core. Each section names whether it is official source data, a MedCoder-derived relationship or MedCoder editorial.

Code Overview

Other abnormalities of breathing is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (R06.89).

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

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-derived relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name R06.89 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 1 Excludes1 note: R09.2 — Respiratory arrest.

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

Referenced by 2 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: F98 — Other behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence, R09.0 — Asphyxia and hypoxemia.

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Referenced by 1 Code Also instruction: E20.810 — Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (via R06.-).

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

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2027)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2027 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 1 MS-DRG: DRG 204 (MDC 04).

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

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):SYM013 — Respiratory signs and symptoms (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 (Respiratory signs and symptoms).

R06.1 — Stridor, R06.2 — Wheezing, R06.3 — Periodic breathing, R06.4 — Hyperventilation, R06.5 — Mouth breathing, R06.6 — Hiccough, R06.7 — Sneezing, R06.81 — Apnea, not elsewhere classified, R06.82 — Tachypnea, not elsewhere classified, R06.83 — Snoring, R06.9 — Unspecified abnormalities of breathing, R07.0 — Pain in throat, R07.1 — Chest pain on breathing, R07.81 — Pleurodynia, R07.82 — Intercostal pain, R09.01 — Asphyxia, R09.02 — Hypoxemia, R09.3 — Abnormal sputum, R09.81 — Nasal congestion, R09.82 — Postnasal drip, +20 more

Same Index main term, other category

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

Q22.2 — Congenital pulmonary valve insufficiency (pulmonary, valve, congenital), Q22.8 — Other congenital malformations of tricuspid valve (tricuspid, congenital), Q23.1 — Congenital insufficiency of aortic valve (aortic, congenital), Q23.3 — Congenital mitral insufficiency (mitral, congenital), Q24.8 — Other specified congenital malformations of heart (valve, valvular, congenital), Q33.6 — Congenital hypoplasia and dysplasia of lung (development, lungs), Q38.8 — Other congenital malformations of pharynx (velopharyngeal, congenital), Q52.79 — Other congenital malformations of vulva (development, genitalia, congenital, female, external), Q52.8 — Other specified congenital malformations of female genitalia (development, genitalia, congenital, female), Q55.8 — Other specified congenital malformations of male genital organs (development, genitalia, congenital, male), R07.1 — Chest pain on breathing (painful), R19.6 — Halitosis (foul), R32 — Unspecified urinary incontinence (urethral sphincter), R62.50 — Unspecified lack of expected normal physiological development in childhood (development, child), R85.615 — Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of anus (sample of cytologic smear, anus), R87.615 — Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of cervix (sample of cytologic smear, cervix), R87.625 — Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of vagina (sample of cytologic smear, vagina), T73.0 — Starvation (food), T79.4 — Traumatic shock (decreased due to shock, following injury), Z55.8 — Other problems related to education and literacy (teaching affecting education), +124 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.

Blood Glucose Test, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of R06.89 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 R06.89 with these 4 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • R09.2 — Respiratory arrest[Excludes1]: “respiratory insufficiency (R06.89)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2027

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Referenced by Code Also instructions

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 04 — Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory 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. 4,000 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027

Index entries (13)

  • Bradypnea[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Breath, holder, child[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Breath, holding spell[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Hypercapnia[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Hypoventilation[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Inadequate, inadequacy, pulmonary, function[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Insufficiency, insufficient, respiratory[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Irregular, irregularity, breathing[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • and 5 more

Nearest codes (19)

Change history

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

Reference

Index terms and tables, published questions and FAQ, every source behind this page with its release and checksum, the date-of-service check and the complete change history.

Indexed Clinical Terms (13)

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.

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 FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 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 — v44 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-derived 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 editorial 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.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder-derived relationship · MedCoder editorial explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates · CMS coding rules

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. "R06.89 — Other abnormalities of breathing." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/r06.89-other-abnormalities-of-breathing

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Other abnormalities of breathing

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, 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 R06.89 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the R06 family