Excludes1 pair
K70.2 vs K74-
K70.2 and K74 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.
The official note, declared on K74
alcoholic fibrosis of liver (K70.2)
K70.2
Alcoholic fibrosis and sclerosis of liver
Billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K70-K77
Indexed under
- Fibrosis, fibrotic › liver › alcoholic
- Sclerosis, sclerotic › hepatic › alcoholic
- Sclerosis, sclerotic › liver › alcoholic
- Disease, diseased › liver › alcoholic › fibrosis
- Disease, diseased › liver › alcoholic › sclerosis
K74
Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
Not billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K70-K77
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027