ICDcodes.org
FY2027

K90 vs K91.2

K90 and K91.2 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.

The official note, declared on K90
intestinal malabsorption following gastrointestinal surgery (K91.2)
K90

Intestinal malabsorption

Not billable
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K90-K95
K91.2

Postsurgical malabsorption, not elsewhere classified

BillableUnspecified
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K90-K95
Use when the record says
  • Postsurgical blind loop syndrome
Indexed under
  • Tachyalimentation
  • Malabsorption › postgastrectomy
  • Malabsorption › postsurgical
  • Malnutrition › following gastrointestinal surgery
  • Complication › surgical procedure › malabsorptionNEC (s) (from) (of)

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