ICD-10 Logo
ICDxICD-10 Medical Coding
ICD-10 Logo
ICDxICD-10 Medical Coding
ICD 10 CodesDiagnoses
ICD 10 CodesDiagnoses
ICD-10 Logo
ICDxICD-10 Medical Coding

Comprehensive ICD-10-CM code reference with AI-powered search capabilities.

© 2025 ICD Code Compass. All rights reserved.

Browse

  • All Chapters
  • All Categories
  • Diagnoses

Tools

  • AI Code Search
ICD-10-CM codes are maintained by the CDC and CMS. This tool is for reference purposes only.
v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesPharyngeal Dysphagia

Pharyngeal Dysphagia

ICD-10 Coding for Pharyngeal Dysphagia(R13.13)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYSpeech-Language Pathology
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Pharyngeal Dysphagia?
Essential facts and insights about Pharyngeal Dysphagia

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Difficulty swallowing solids and liquids
  • Choking or coughing during meals
  • Regurgitation of food
  • Weight loss or dehydration due to eating difficulties
  • Voice changes or nasal regurgitation

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history of swallowing difficulties
  • Results from swallowing assessments (e.g., videofluoroscopic swallow study)
  • Detailed description of symptoms and their impact on daily life
  • Assessment of oral and pharyngeal function
  • Recommendations for dietary modifications or therapy

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Use R13.10 for unspecified dysphagia; R13.11 for oropharyngeal; R13.12 for esophageal.
  • Common errors include using the wrong code for the type of dysphagia.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Excludes conditions like esophageal strictures or tumors causing dysphagia
  • Alternative codes for related conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
R13.10
Dysphagia, unspecified
R13.11
Dysphagia, oropharyngeal
R13.12
Dysphagia, esophageal
Ancillary Codes
I69.3
Differential Codes
K22.82

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty Applications

  • Adults with neurological disorders, stroke patients, elderly populations
  • Outpatient speech therapy clinics, inpatient rehabilitation facilities

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Include detailed patient history, assessment results, and treatment plans.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding based on specific dysphagia type and associated conditions.