2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K70Alcoholic liver disease

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K70-K77›K70

ICD-10-CM K70
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K70 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for alcoholic liver disease, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as K70.0, K70.10, K70.11, and K70.2.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K70
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Alcoholic liver disease
Short Description
Alcoholic liver disease
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
K70-K77
Diseases of liver

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK70-K77Diseases of liver
CategoryK70Alcoholic liver disease
This CodeK70Alcoholic liver disease

Specific Coding for Alcoholic liver diseaseOverview

Non-specific codes like K70 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use K70.0 for Alcoholic fatty liver

  • K70.1 for Alcoholic hepatitis

  • Use K70.10 for Alcoholic hepatitis without ascites

  • Use K70.11 for Alcoholic hepatitis with ascites

  • Use K70.2 for Alcoholic fibrosis and sclerosis of liver

  • K70.3 for Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver

  • Use K70.30 for Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver without ascites

  • Use K70.31 for Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver with ascites

  • K70.4 for Alcoholic hepatic failure

  • Use K70.40 for Alcoholic hepatic failure without coma

  • Use K70.41 for Alcoholic hepatic failure with coma

  • Use K70.9 for Alcoholic liver disease, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K70: its own notes plus those printed at block K70-K77 and Chapter 11. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From Block K70-K77 Diseases of liver applies to 65 codes
  • jaundice NOS (R17)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Block K70-K77 Diseases of liver applies to 65 codes
From Chapter 11 (K00-K95) Diseases of the digestive system applies to 863 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

  • code to identify:
  • alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K70, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K70: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • K77 Liver disorders in diseases classified elsewhere
    alcoholic liver disease (K70.-)

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K70: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • K71 Toxic liver disease
    alcoholic liver disease (K70.-)
  • K76 Other diseases of liver
    alcoholic liver disease (K70.-)

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic

    liver diseases associated with alcoholism. it usually refers to the coexistence of two or more subentities, i.e., alcoholic fatty liver; alcoholic hepatitis; and alcoholic cirrhosis.

Patient EducationClinical

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

For most adults, moderate alcohol use is probably not harmful. Your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) depends on how much, how often, and how quickly you drink alcohol. Alcohol misuse means that drinking causes distress and harm. Over time alcohol misuse can increase your risk of AUD.

The full article covers:

  • What is alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
  • What is binge drinking?
  • What are the dangers of too much alcohol?
  • How do I know if I have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
  • What should I do if I think that I might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About K70Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for alcoholic liver disease?

K70 is the ICD-10-CM category for alcoholic liver disease, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is K70 (Alcoholic liver disease) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for alcoholic liver disease, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for alcoholic liver disease need a more specific code from this category, such as K70.0, K70.10, and K70.11.

Can K70 be reported with R17?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block K70-K77, which applies to K70, lists "jaundice NOS (R17)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Does K70 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify: alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-). The additional code is reported after K70.