Excludes1 pair

K70- vs K77

K70 and K77 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 K77
alcoholic hepatitis (K70.1-)
K70

Alcoholic liver disease

Not billable
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K70-K77
K77

Liver disorders in diseases classified elsewhere

Billable
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K70-K77
Indexed under
  • Amyloidosis › liver
  • Hepatosplenomegaly › hyperlipemic (Bürger-Grütz type)
  • Degeneration, degenerative › liver NEC › amyloid
  • Disease, diseased › liver › glycogen storage
  • Disorder › liver › malarial

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