ICD-10 Guide

Abnormal Liver Function

ICD-10 Coding for Abnormal Liver Function(R94.5, R74.01)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYGastroenterology

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Abnormal Liver Function?

Essential facts and insights about Abnormal Liver Function

Key Clinical Considerations:

Presence of symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, and fatigue
Abnormal results from liver function tests such as ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin levels

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Detailed description of patient's symptoms
Specific results of liver function tests
Any underlying conditions or diseases

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

R94.5 is used for abnormal results of liver function studies, while R74.01 is for nonspecific elevation of levels of transaminase and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH)
R94.5 should be used when the abnormality is not further specified

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Conditions with specific liver disease codes
When the level of a specific enzyme is elevated

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Gastroenterology

Specialty Applications

Patients with symptoms of liver disease
Patients with abnormal liver function tests

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Template 1

Patient presents with symptoms of liver disease, including...

Template 2

Liver function tests reveal abnormal levels of...

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms might a patient with abnormal liver function have?

Symptoms can include jaundice, abdominal pain, and fatigue.

When should R94.5 be used instead of R74.01?

R94.5 should be used when the abnormality is not further specified, while R74.01 is for nonspecific elevation of levels of transaminase and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH).

Abnormal Liver Function

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Template 1

Template 2

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms might a patient with abnormal liver function have?

When should R94.5 be used instead of R74.01?

Abnormal Liver Function

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Template 1

Template 2

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms might a patient with abnormal liver function have?

When should R94.5 be used instead of R74.01?