According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, which code should be assigned for an elevated blood pressure reading without a diagnosis of hypertension?

The appropriate code for an elevated blood pressure reading without a diagnosis of hypertension is R03.0. This code specifically identifies a situation where the patient presents with an elevated blood pressure reading that has not been classified as hypertension.

R03.0 denotes "Elevated blood pressure reading, without diagnosis of hypertension," which captures the clinical scenario accurately. It is crucial to differentiate between elevated blood pressure readings and hypertension, as the assigned codes will impact patient management and billing processes. The use of R03.0 reflects that the condition is a finding rather than a chronic disease needing treatment.

In contrast, other codes provided are either related to different clinical situations or classifications. R03.9 signifies an unspecified elevation of blood pressure and would not accurately reflect the specific nature of just an elevated reading. I10 pertains to essential hypertension, which is not applicable here since there is no diagnosis of hypertension. R03.1 is used for a single elevated blood pressure reading (such as during a specific encounter) but doesn't fit the broader category of an elevated reading without a hypertension diagnosis. Hence, R03.0 is the most precise and fitting code in this case.