Dysuria ICD-10 Coding Guide

Also known as

  • Painful urination
  • Difficult urination

The ICD-10-CM code for dysuria is R30.0 (Dysuria), a billable code reported when a patient presents with painful or difficult urination, including symptoms such as strangury and painful micturition.

Primary codes

Billable

Billable

Extension

7th character

POA exempt

No

Inclusion terms

  • Strangury

Coding risks

  • Coding a suspected or rule-out condition as confirmed

Code comparison

Compare key differences between related codes to select the most specific option.

CodeDescriptionScenario
R30.0DysuriaDysuria documented as painful or burning urination, without tenesmus or unspecified wording.
R30.9Painful micturition, unspecifiedPainful urination documented without specifying dysuria, tenesmus, or the character of the pain.
R30.1Vesical tenesmusPatient with persistent painful urge to void despite an empty bladder, distinguishing from generalized dysuria.

Select the most specific code supported by the encounter documentation. More specific codes improve reimbursement accuracy and reduce audit risk.

Code ranges

Coding risks

Avoid these common coding issues when reporting Dysuria.

Impact

Assigning R30.0 when a definitive cause like UTI is documented may undercode the encounter.

Mitigation

Consider querying the provider when symptoms suggest infection but no definitive diagnosis is recorded.

Ancillary and co-coding

Codes commonly reported with the primary diagnosis on the same claim.

Differential codes

Alternative or commonly confused codes to consider when documentation suggests a different condition than the primary diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions

Use R30.9 only when documentation states painful micturition without specifying dysuria. R30.0 is preferred whenever dysuria is explicitly documented.

References

Compiled from the following authoritative coding references. Last updated 2026-08-04.

Disclaimer

This page is compiled from authoritative coding references for educational and reference purposes only. It is not medical advice, billing authority, or an official source of ICD-10-CM guidelines. Always verify codes against the current CMS ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, AHIMA guidance, and your organization’s coding policies. ICD-10-CM is updated annually on October 1.