ICDcodes.org
FY2027

R85.9 — Unspecified abnormal finding in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

BillableUnspecified

Is R85.9 billable?

Yes, but R85.9 is an unspecified code. R85.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, R85.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting R85.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.

More specific alternatives

R85.9 at a glance

CodeR85.9
DescriptionUnspecified abnormal finding in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity
BillableYes
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Which MS-DRGs does R85.9 group to?

R85.9 sits in MDC 23 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.

  • 947Signs and Symptoms with MCCmedical
  • 948Signs and Symptoms without MCCmedical

How is R85.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?

These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to R85.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.

  • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities › specimen › digestive organs

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from R83-R89

The conditions below can never be reported together with R85.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from R85

The conditions below can never be reported together with R85.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)
  • fecal abnormalities (R19.5)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18

The conditions below are not part of R85.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R85.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from R83-R89

The conditions below are not part of R85.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R85.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
  • abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
  • abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)

How long has R85.9 existed?

R85.9 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.

Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.

What other codes are in the R85 family? (9)