2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N18Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

ICD-10-CM Codes›N00–N99›N17-N19›CKD

ICD-10-CM N18
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

N18 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for chronic kidney disease (CKD), so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as N18.1, N18.2, N18.30, and N18.31.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
N18
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Short Description
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
N17-N19
Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease

Code Classification

ChapterN00–N99Diseases of the genitourinary system
SectionN17-N19Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease
CategoryCKDChronic kidney disease (N18)
This CodeN18Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Specific Coding for Chronic kidney disease (CKD)Overview

Non-specific codes like N18 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use N18.1 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 1

  • Use N18.2 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 2 (mild)

  • N18.3 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 3 (moderate)

  • Use N18.30 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 3 unspecified

  • Use N18.31 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 3a

  • Use N18.32 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 3b

  • Use N18.4 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 (severe)

  • Use N18.5 for Chronic kidney disease, stage 5

  • Use N18.6 for End stage renal disease

  • Use N18.9 for Chronic kidney disease, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to N18: its own notes plus those printed at block N17-N19 and Chapter 14. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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 N17-N19 Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease applies to 15 codes
  • congenital renal failure (P96.0)
  • drug- and heavy-metal-induced tubulo-interstitial and tubular conditions (N14.-)
  • extrarenal uremia (R39.2)
  • hemolytic-uremic syndrome (D59.3-)
  • hepatorenal syndrome (K76.7)
  • postpartum hepatorenal syndrome (O90.41)
  • posttraumatic renal failure (T79.5)
  • prerenal uremia (R39.2)
  • renal failure complicating abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.4)
  • renal failure following labor and delivery (O90.41)
  • renal failure postprocedural (N99.0)
From Chapter 14 (N00-N99) Diseases of the genitourinary system applies to 838 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)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

Use Additional Code

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

  • code, if applicable, to identify:
  • associated cachexia (E88.A)
  • kidney transplant status (Z94.0)

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name N18, its category, or a range that includes it.

Includes 1

These notes mention N18.

  • I12 Hypertensive chronic kidney disease
    any condition in N18 and N26 - due to hypertension

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming N18: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • N19 Unspecified kidney failure
    chronic kidney disease (N18.-)

Code First 2

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and N18 is one of the conditions named.

  • D63.1 Anemia in chronic kidney disease
    underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD) (N18.-)
  • I5A Non-ischemic myocardial injury (non-traumatic)
    chronic kidney disease (CKD) (N18.-)

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and N18 is one of the codes named.

  • I75.81 Atheroembolism of kidney
    code for any associated acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease (N17.-, N18.-)

Code Also 3

These codes say N18 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • D59.3 Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
    chronic kidney disease (N18.-)
  • E20.810 Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia
    chronic kidney disease (N18.-)
  • Block N00-N08 Glomerular diseases
    any associated kidney failure (N17-N19). names N17-N19, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Chronic Kidney Disease

    impairment of the renal function secondary to chronic kidney damage persisting for three or more months.

Patient EducationClinical

Chronic Kidney Disease

You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. Their main job is to filter your blood. They remove wastes and extra water, which become urine. They also keep the body's chemicals balanced, help control blood pressure, and make hormones.

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 N18Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

N18 is the ICD-10-CM category for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is N18 (Chronic kidney disease (CKD)) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for chronic kidney disease (CKD), and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for chronic kidney disease (CKD) need a more specific code from this category, such as N18.1, N18.2, and N18.30.

Does N18 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code, if applicable, to identify: associated cachexia (E88.A); kidney transplant status (Z94.0). The additional code is reported after N18.