2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K70-K77›K73

ICD-10-CM K73
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K73 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as K73.0, K73.1, K73.2, and K73.8.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K73
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
Short Description
Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
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
CategoryK73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
This CodeK73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

Specific Coding for Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classifiedOverview

Non-specific codes like K73 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use K73.0 for Chronic persistent hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

  • Use K73.1 for Chronic lobular hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

  • Use K73.2 for Chronic active hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

  • Use K73.8 for Other chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

  • Use K73.9 for Chronic hepatitis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K73: 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.

On K73 itself
  • alcoholic hepatitis (chronic) (K70.1-)
  • drug-induced hepatitis (chronic) (K71.-)
  • granulomatous hepatitis (chronic) NEC (K75.3)
  • reactive, nonspecific hepatitis (chronic) (K75.2)
  • viral hepatitis (chronic) (B15-B19)
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, if applicable, for ascites (R18.8)

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K73, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K73: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • K75.2 Nonspecific reactive hepatitis
    chronic hepatitis NEC (K73.-)
  • K75.3 Granulomatous hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
    chronic hepatitis NEC (K73.-)
  • K75.9 Inflammatory liver disease, unspecified
    chronic hepatitis NEC (K73.-)

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hepatitis, Chronic

    inflammation of the liver with ongoing hepatocellular injury for 6 months or more, characterized by necrosis of hepatocytes and inflammatory cell (leukocytes) infiltration. chronic hepatitis can be caused by viruses, medications, autoimmune diseases, and other unknown factors.

Patient EducationClinical

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.

The full article covers:

  • What is hepatitis?
  • What causes hepatitis?
  • How is viral hepatitis spread?
  • Who is at risk for hepatitis?
  • What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
  • What other problems can hepatitis cause?
  • How is hepatitis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for hepatitis?

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 K73Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified?

K73 is the ICD-10-CM category for chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is K73 (Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified need a more specific code from this category, such as K73.0, K73.1, and K73.2.

Can K73 be reported with a code from K70.1?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on K73 lists "alcoholic hepatitis (chronic) (K70.1-)". 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 K73 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code, if applicable, for ascites (R18.8). The additional code is reported after K73.