Benign essential hypertension

This code signifies a diagnosis of high blood pressure that has no identifiable secondary cause. It is a chronic condition where the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high, without being attributable to another underlying medical problem.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states "benign essential hypertension" or "primary hypertension" without any mention of complications or specific organ involvement. This code is appropriate for initial diagnoses and ongoing management of uncomplicated, idiopathic hypertension.

• Do not use this code if the hypertension is documented as malignant, accelerated, or associated with heart disease, kidney disease, or other conditions.
• Always review documentation for any mention of complications (e.g., congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease) which would necessitate a more specific hypertension code.
• This code is for uncomplicated hypertension; if the patient has a hypertensive crisis, a different code from the 401.x series would be more appropriate.