CHF Exacerbation ICD-10-CM Codes

Here’s a short guide for ICD-10 codes for CHR exacerbation featuring information on the diagnosis, billability, synonyms, and more.

By Harriet Murray on Aug 8, 2025.

Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.

Use Code

What ICD-10 Codes are Used for CHF Exacerbation

Currently, the accurate ICD-10 Code for CHF exacerbation is I50.9: Heart failure, unspecified.

However, there are ICD codes used for CHF that may lead to exacerbation. These are:

Systolic (congestive) heart failure

I50.20: Unspecified systolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.21: Acute systolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.22: Chronic systolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.23: Acute chronic systolic (congestive) heart failure

Diastolic (congestive) heart failure

I50.30: Unspecified diastolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.31: Acute diastolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.32: Chronic diastolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.33: Acute on chronic diastolic (congestive) heart failure

Combined systolic (congestive) and diastolic (congestive) heart failure

I50.40: Unspecified combined systolic (congestive) and diastolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.41: Acute combined systolic (congestive) and diastolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.42: Chronic combined systolic (congestive) and diastolic (congestive) heart failure
I50.43: Acute on chronic combined systolic (congestive) and diastolic (congestive) heart failure

Which CHF Exacerbation ICD codes are Billable:

All of the ICD-10 codes mentioned above are billable.

Clinical Information

A CHF exacerbation occurs when a patient's symptoms of congestive heart failure worsen temporarily. The primary causes of CHF exacerbations include medication, high sodium intake, and lung infections.
Common symptoms experienced during a CHF exacerbation include stomach bloating, weight gain, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, and feeling full even after consuming only a few bites of food.
A healthcare practitioner will conduct a physical examination, imaging tests, and blood and lab tests to diagnose a CHF exacerbation.
The goal of treatment is typically to reduce fluid volume in the patient's body. This can be achieved by administering diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, adjusting current medication, or addressing the underlying cause of the exacerbation.

Synonyms Include:

Exacerbation of congestive heart failure
Chronic heart failure
Cardiac edema
Acute congestive heart failure
Benign hypertensive heart disease

Commonly asked questions

You can use the CHF Exacerbation ICD code when you’ve assessed with tests that the patient’s CHF has exacerbated.

Yes, the lone CHF exacerbation and its related ICD-10 codes used for CHF are billable.

Common treatments of CHF exacerbation are medication aiming to either treat the cause of the exacerbation, switch out/adjust the medication causing the exacerbation, or giving medication that will remove excess fluid from the patient’s body.

EHR and practice management software

Get started for free

*No credit card required

Start for free

Free

$0/usd

Unlimited clients

Telehealth

1GB of storage

Client portal text