2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code P54.1Neonatal melena

ICD-10-CM Codes›P00–P96›P50-P61›P54

ICD-10-CM P54.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

P54.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for neonatal melena. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 791, 793. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) and places an inpatient stay in the highest severity level of its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 44 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as hematochezia. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Hemorrhagic and hematologic disorders of newborn.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
P54.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Neonatal melena
Short Description
Neonatal melena
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
P54
Other neonatal hemorrhages

Code Classification

ChapterP00–P96Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
SectionP50-P61Hemorrhagic and hematological disorders of newborn
CategoryP54Other neonatal hemorrhages
This CodeP54.1Neonatal melena

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Hematochezia
  • Melena
  • Melena due to gastrointestinal hemorrhage
  • Neonatal melena
  • Occult blood detected in feces
  • Perinatal melena
  • Stool flecked with blood
  • Trace occult blood detected in feces

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to P54.1: its own notes plus those printed at P54, block P50-P61, and Chapter 16. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Chapter 16 (P00-P96) Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period applies to 463 codes
  • conditions that have their origin in the fetal or perinatal period (before birth through the first 28 days after birth) even if morbidity occurs later

Excludes1

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

On P54.1 itself
  • neonatal melena due to swallowed maternal blood (P78.2)
From P54 Other neonatal hemorrhages applies to 9 codes
  • newborn affected by (intrauterine) blood loss (P50.-)
  • pulmonary hemorrhage originating in the perinatal period (P26.-)
From Block P50-P61 Hemorrhagic and hematological disorders of newborn applies to 67 codes
  • congenital stenosis and stricture of bile ducts (Q44.3)
  • Crigler-Najjar syndrome (E80.5)
  • Dubin-Johnson syndrome (E80.6)
  • Gilbert syndrome (E80.4)
  • hereditary hemolytic anemias (D55-D58)

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 Chapter 16 (P00-P96) Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period applies to 463 codes
  • 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)
  • tetanus neonatorum (A33)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 16 (P00-P96) Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period applies to 463 codes
  • Codes from this chapter are for use on newborn records only, never on maternal records

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name P54.1, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming P54.1: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • R19.5 Other fecal abnormalities
    neonatal melena (P54.1)
  • K92 Other diseases of digestive system
    neonatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P54.0-P54.3) names P54.0-P54.3, which includes this code
  • P78 Other perinatal digestive system disorders
    neonatal gastrointestinal hemorrhages (P54.0-P54.3) names P54.0-P54.3, which includes this code

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming P54.1: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Block R10-R19 Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
    newborn gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P54.0-P54.3) names P54.0-P54.3, which includes this code
  • Block R70-R79 Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
    hemorrhagic and hematological disorders of newborn (P50-P61) names P50-P61, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR PNL011
Hemorrhagic and hematologic disorders of newborn
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Melena Neonatorum

    abnormally dark tarry feces containing blood, usually due to gastrointestinal bleeding or swallowed maternal blood in neonates.

Patient EducationClinical

Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Your digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine or colon, rectum, and anus. Bleeding can come from any of these areas. The amount of bleeding can be so small that only a lab test can find it.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert P54.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
772.4 NB GI hemorrhage
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 P54.1Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for neonatal melena?

The ICD-10-CM code for neonatal melena is P54.1 (sometimes written as P541). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is P54.1 (Other neonatal hemorrhages) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report neonatal melena on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does P54.1 group to?

When neonatal melena is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 793, 791, with relative weights from 4.1073 to 4.2192 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is P54.1 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists P54.1 as an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it places the inpatient stay in the highest-weighted DRG of its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 44 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can P54.1 be reported with P78.2?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on P54.1 lists "neonatal melena due to swallowed maternal blood (P78.2)". 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).