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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther diseases of the digestive systemICD-10-CM k90-intestinal-malabsorption
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Intestinal Malabsorption: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group K90 includes disorders of intestinal malabsorption such as celiac disease, tropical sprue, pancreatic steatorrhea, and other specified and unspecified malabsorption syndromes affecting nutrient absorption. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios involving impaired intestinal absorption and its consequences, capturing disease severity, organ involvement, or clinical complexity relevant to this group. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM K90 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM K90: Intestinal Malabsorption Overview

    The ICD-10-CM K90 group covers disorders of intestinal malabsorption, including celiac disease, tropical sprue, pancreatic steatorrhea, and other malabsorption syndromes affecting nutrient absorption in the small intestine. These conditions target the gastrointestinal system and can lead to nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, and related systemic complications. Accurate coding is important to reflect disease severity and complexity and to support correct reimbursement and clinical recordkeeping.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a patient has clinical, laboratory, or biopsy-confirmed malabsorption or when a clinician documents a specific malabsorption syndrome such as celiac disease or pancreatic steatorrhea. Select the most specific code available to reflect the identified cause, associated complications, and clinical complexity for accurate documentation and billing.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    13 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    K90.0Celiac disease
    K90.1Tropical sprue
    K90.2Blind loop syndrome, not elsewhere classified
    K90.3Pancreatic steatorrhea
    K90.41Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
    K90.49Malabsorption due to intolerance, not elsewhere classified
    K90.81Whipple's disease
    K90.821Short bowel syndrome with colon in continuity
    K90.822Short bowel syndrome without colon in continuity
    K90.829Short bowel syndrome, unspecified
    K90.83Intestinal failure
    K90.89Other intestinal malabsorption
    K90.9Intestinal malabsorption, unspecified

    DRG Codes

    5 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    391Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders with MCC
    392Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders without MCC
    393Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
    394Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
    395Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • An adult presents to the emergency department with several days of profuse watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, weight loss, and signs of dehydration after a recent jejunal resection for mesenteric ischemia. Laboratory testing reveals fat malabsorption with steatorrhea and nutritional deficiencies; a malabsorption diagnosis is assigned to explain the acute worsening of absorption after intestinal surgery. Typical codes: K90.3, K90.89
    • A middle-aged patient with long-standing celiac disease who has persistent bloating, iron-deficiency anemia, and failure to regain weight despite a gluten-free diet is evaluated in clinic; duodenal biopsy confirms villous atrophy and ongoing malabsorption. This chronic, immune-mediated intestinal malabsorption is coded to capture the underlying disorder responsible for nutrient malabsorption and related deficiency states. Typical codes: K90.0, K90.41
    • A child with cystic fibrosis is followed for poor growth and recurrent steatorrhea despite enzyme supplementation; pancreatic exocrine insufficiency testing documents fat malabsorption and need for adjustment of therapy. The malabsorption secondary to pancreatic insufficiency is coded to reflect the cause of nutrient malabsorption and guide ongoing management. Typical codes: K90.81, K90.82

    Related Codes

    K91-INTRAOPERATIVE-AND-POSTPROCEDURAL-COMPLICATIONS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Intraoperative And Postprocedural Complications Of Digestive System: Group Overview

    K92-OTHER-DISEASES-OF-DIGESTIVE-SYSTEM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Diseases Of Digestive System: Group Overview

    K94-COMPLICATIONS-OF-DIGESTIVE-OPENINGS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Complications Of Artificial Openings Of The Digestive System: Group Overview

    K95-COMPLICATIONS-OF-BARIATRIC-PROCEDURES

    ICD-10-CM Code For Complications Of Bariatric Procedures: Group Overview

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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