R68.13 – Apparent life threatening event in infant (ALTE)

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · General symptoms and signs

Billable code

ICD-10-CM code R68.13

Code: R68.13 (claims format: R6813)
Description: Apparent life threatening event in infant (ALTE)
Billable: Yes – valid for HIPAA-covered transactions
Valid for: Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
Chapter: 18. Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
Block: R50-R69 General symptoms and signs
Parent codes: R68 › R68.1

Notes for R68.13

Applicable to:

Apparent life threatening event in newborn
Brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE)

Code first:

confirmed diagnosis, if known

Use additional code:

code(s) for associated signs and symptoms if no confirmed diagnosis established, or if signs and symptoms are not associated routinely with confirmed diagnosis, or provide additional information for cause of ALTE

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

R68.1 – Nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy

Excludes1 (not coded here):

colic, infantile (R10.83)
neonatal cerebral irritability (P91.3)
teething syndrome (K00.7)

Index terms for R68.13

Entries in the ICD-10-CM alphabetic index that lead to this code:

Related codes in R68.1

R68.11 – Excessive crying of infant (baby)Billable
R68.12 – Fussy infant (baby)Billable
R68.19 – Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancyBillable

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code R68.13?

R68.13 is the ICD-10-CM code for apparent life threatening event in infant (ALTE), in the block R50-R69 (General symptoms and signs).

Is R68.13 a billable code?

Yes. R68.13 is a billable/specific code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.

What category does R68.13 belong to?

It belongs to category R68 – Other general symptoms and signs.

Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.