K50-K52
Medium Complexity
Noninfective enteritis and colitis
Primary Specialty: Gastroenterology
Last Updated: 2025-09-09
ICD-10 Codes (82)
63 billable17 category headers
K51K51.0K51.00Billable
K51.01K51.011Billable
K51.012Billable
K51.013Billable
K51.014Billable
K51.018Billable
K51.019Billable
K51.2K51.20Billable
K51.21K51.211Billable
K51.212Billable
K51.213Billable
K51.214Billable
K51.218Billable
K51.219Billable
K51.3K51.30Billable
K51.31K51.311Billable
K51.312Billable
K51.313Billable
K51.314Billable
K51.318Billable
K51.319Billable
K51.4K51.40Billable
K51.41K51.411Billable
K51.412Billable
K51.413Billable
K51.414Billable
K51.418Billable
K51.419Billable
K51.5K51.50Billable
K51.51K51.511Billable
K51.512Billable
K51.513Billable
K51.514Billable
K51.518Billable
K51.519Billable
K51.8K51.80Billable
K51.81K51.811Billable
K51.812Billable
K51.813Billable
K51.814Billable
K51.818Billable
K51.819Billable
K51.9K51.90Billable
K51.91K51.911Billable
K51.912Billable
K51.913Billable
K51.914Billable
K51.918Billable
K51.919Billable
K52K52.0Billable
K52.1Billable
K52.2K52.21Billable
K52.22Billable
K52.29Billable
K52.3Billable
K52.8K52.81Billable
K52.82Billable
K52.83K52.831Billable
K52.832Billable
K52.838Billable
K52.839Billable
K52.89Billable
K52.9Billable
Updates & Changes
FY 2026 Updates
Current Year
New Codes (1)
K50.919
Crohn's disease, unspecified, with perianal disease complications
Revised Codes (2)
K51.90
Ulcerative colitis, unspecified, without complications - updated endoscopic severity scoring
K50.90
Crohn's disease, unspecified, without complications - enhanced phenotyping
Deleted Codes
No codes deleted in this range for FY 2026
Historical Changes
- •FY 2025: Enhanced inflammatory bowel disease phenotyping
- •FY 2024: Added biologic therapy response coding
- •FY 2023: Updated IBD-associated arthritis classification
Upcoming Changes
- •Proposed microbiome-based IBD coding
- •Under review: Enhanced therapeutic drug monitoring codes
Implementation Guidance
- •Review all FY 2026 updates for K50-K52 codes before implementation
- •Always verify the most current codes in the ICD-10-CM manual
- •Ensure clinical documentation supports the selected diagnosis codes
- +3 more guidance items...
Range Overview
high priority
The ICD-10 code range K50-K52 is dedicated to noninfective enteritis and colitis. These codes cover a variety of conditions related to inflammation of the intestines, excluding those caused by infectious agents. Conditions include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis. The codes are used to specify the location, type, and severity of the inflammation.
Key Usage Points:
- •K50 codes are used for Crohn's disease, specifying location and complications.
- •K51 codes cover ulcerative colitis, with subcodes for severity and complications.
- •K52 codes are used for other noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis, excluding those caused by radiation or specified diseases classified elsewhere.
- •Always use the highest level of specificity available within each code category.
- •Remember to code any associated complications, such as abscess or fistula, using additional codes if necessary.
Coding Guidelines
When to Use:
- ✓When a patient is diagnosed with Crohn's disease (K50).
- ✓When a patient is diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (K51).
- ✓When a patient presents with noninfective gastroenteritis or colitis, not specified as acute or chronic (K52.9).
- ✓When a patient has noninfective gastroenteritis or colitis due to effects of drugs or medications (K52.1).
- ✓When a patient has protein-losing gastroenteropathy (K52.8).
When NOT to Use:
- ✗When the enteritis or colitis is due to a specific infectious agent, such as E. coli or Salmonella.
- ✗When the condition is due to radiation (use K52.0).
- ✗When the patient has ischemic colitis (use K55.0-K55.9).
- ✗When the patient has diverticular disease with inflammation (use K57.-).
- ✗When the patient has irritable bowel syndrome (use K58.-).
Code Exclusions
Always verify exclusions by checking the patient's full medical record and any available diagnostic results.
Documentation Requirements
Accurate documentation is crucial for coding within the K50-K52 range. The documentation should clearly state the specific type of noninfective enteritis or colitis, its location, and any associated complications. The cause of the condition, if known, should also be documented.
Clinical Information:
- •Specific diagnosis (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).
- •Location of the condition (e.g., small intestine, large intestine, both).
- •Presence and type of any complications (e.g., abscess, fistula).
- •Cause of the condition, if known (e.g., drug-induced).
- •Severity of the condition, if applicable.
Supporting Evidence:
- •Results of diagnostic tests, such as colonoscopy or imaging studies.
- •Notes from surgical procedures, if applicable.
- •Patient's symptoms and clinical history.
- •Medication records, if the condition is drug-induced.
Good Documentation Example:
Patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine, with abscess. Colonoscopy confirmed diagnosis and location. Patient has severe abdominal pain and weight loss.
Poor Documentation Example:
Patient diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
Common Documentation Errors:
- âš Not specifying the type of noninfective enteritis or colitis.
- âš Not documenting the location of the condition.
- âš Not documenting any associated complications.
- âš Not specifying the cause of the condition, if known.
Range Statistics
3
Total Codes
63
Billable
Complexity:
Medium
Primary Use:Clinical Documentation
Chapter:11
Coding Complexity
Medium
Complexity Rating
Coding within the K50-K52 range requires a good understanding of the different types of noninfective enteritis and colitis, as well as the ability to accurately code the location and any complications. The need to navigate exclusions adds an additional layer of complexity.
Key Factors:
- â–¸Determining the specific type of noninfective enteritis or colitis.
- â–¸Identifying the location of the condition.
- â–¸Coding any associated complications.
- â–¸Determining the cause of the condition, if known.
- â–¸Navigating the exclusions for this code range.
Specialty Focus
The K50-K52 range is most frequently used by gastroenterologists, but may also be used by general practitioners, internists, and surgeons. These codes are particularly relevant for specialists managing chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
Primary Specialties:
Gastroenterology
70%
General Practice
20%
Surgery
10%
Clinical Scenarios:
- • A patient presents with chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain. Colonoscopy reveals ulcerative colitis.
- • A patient with known Crohn's disease presents with a new anal fistula.
- • A patient presents with gastroenteritis after starting a new medication. Drug-induced gastroenteritis is diagnosed.
- • A patient with severe ulcerative colitis undergoes colectomy. Postoperative diagnosis is ulcerative colitis with abscess.
Resources & References
Several resources are available to assist with coding in the K50-K52 range. These include the official ICD-10 guidelines, clinical reference materials, and educational resources such as coding manuals and webinars.
Official Guidelines:
- ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) ICD-10 guidelines
- World Health Organization (WHO) ICD-10 guidelines
Clinical References:
- American College of Gastroenterology guidelines
- UpToDate clinical resource
Educational Materials:
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) coding resources
- American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) coding resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I code for Crohn's disease with both small and large intestinal involvement?
Use code K50.80 (Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine without complications) or a more specific code if complications are present.
What code should I use for drug-induced gastroenteritis?
Use code K52.1 (Toxic gastroenteritis and colitis).