The article gives a detailed overview of two common inflammatory bowel diseases and their related ICD-10 codes.

1. 1.
ICD-10 Codes to
Report Two Common
Inflammatory Bowel
Diseases
The article gives a detailed overview of two common inflammatory
bowel diseases and their related ICD-10 codes.
Outsource Strategies International
United States

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a specific term used to describe a group of intestinal
disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
The GI tract starts from the mouth to the anus and comprises organs that digest food,
absorb nutrients and process waste products. Inflammation anywhere along the GI tract
disrupts this normal process. Reports suggest that about 10-20 percent of people
diagnosed with IBD have a family history of this condition. The exact cause of IBD is not
known, but in most cases is the result of an improper immune response. Inflammatory
bowel disease symptoms vary, depending on the type and severity of inflammation and the
location of inflammation. Symptoms generally range from mild to severe and include –
abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, fatigue, rectal bleeding and severe weight loss. The
condition can be very painful, debilitating and if left untreated can lead to severe, life-
threatening complications like colon cancer, bowel obstruction, ulcers, fistulas, anal fissure
and blood clots. Even though, IBD can cause some amount of discomfort, it is possible to
prevent or manage the disease effectively and still live a healthy and active lifestyle. People
can reduce the risk of developing IBD or prevent a relapse by - eating healthy foods,
exercising regularly and quitting smoking. When it comes to diagnosing the symptoms and
causes of IBD, gastroenterologists or other physicians can rely on experienced medical
billing companies. Established billing companies will provide the services of skilled
medical coding service providers who have extensive knowledge about the codes and
related guidelines that helps in efficiently managing the claim submission processes.
Let’s take a look at the two common inflammatory bowel diseases and their applicable
codes –
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) – Regarded as a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative
colitis results in long term inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. It occurs
when the lining of the large intestine (also called colon), rectum or both becomes inflamed.
The inflammation causes the bowel to empty its contents more frequently. As the specific
cells on the surface of the lining of the bowel die, ulcers begin to form which in turn can
result in bleeding and discharge of mucus and pus. Generally affecting people of all age
groups, this condition is most commonly diagnosed in those in the age group of 15-35
years. The condition most commonly begins in the rectum and gradually spreads upwards
and sometimes involves the entire colon.
In the initial stages, people with UC may not experience any specific symptoms or
sometimes mild symptoms. However, in some cases symptoms can become severe. Some of
the most common symptoms include – abdominal pain, bloody stools, rectal pain and
bleeding, diarrhea, weight loss and malnutrition. If left untreated, the condition can lead to
severe complications like - bleeding and dehydration, a hole in the colon, liver disease,
bone loss (osteoporosis) and inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes. Treatment
modalities for this condition generally involve drug therapy and surgery. Anti-

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inflammatory drugs help reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system that
starts the inflammation. Surgery to remove the colon will be considered as an option if
medications alone cannot help control the symptoms. Surgical option will be considered
only when there is massive bleeding, perforation of the colon or severe blockage. ICD – 10
codes for diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis include –
 K51 - Ulcerative colitis
 K51.0 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis
 K51.00 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis, without complications
 K51.01 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with complications
 K51.011 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with rectal bleeding
 K51.012 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with intestinal obstruction
 K51.013 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with fistula
 K51.014 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with abscess
 K51.018 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with other complication
 K51.019 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with unspecified complications
 K51.2 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis
 K51.20 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis, without complications
 K51.21 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with complications
 K51.211 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with rectal bleeding
 K51.212 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with intestinal obstruction
 K51.213 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with fistula
 K51.214 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with abscess
 K51.218 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with other complication
 K51.219 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with unspecified complications
 K51.3 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis
 K51.30 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis, without complications
 K51.31 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with complications
 K51.311 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with rectal bleeding
 K51.312 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with intestinal obstruction
 K51.313 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with fistula
 K51.314 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with abscess
 K51.318 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with other complication
 K51.319 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with unspecified
complications
 K51.5 - Left sided colitis
 K51.50 - Left sided colitis, without complications
 K51.51 - Left sided colitis with complications
 K51.511 - Left sided colitis with rectal bleeding
 K51.512 - Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction

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 K51.513 - Left sided colitis with fistula
 K51.514 - Left sided colitis with abscess
 K51.518 - Left sided colitis with other complication
 K51.519 - Left sided colitis with unspecified complications
 K51.8 - Other ulcerative colitis
 K51.80 - Other ulcerative colitis, without complications
 K51.81 - Other ulcerative colitis with complications
 K51.811 - Other ulcerative colitis with rectal bleeding
 K51.812 - Other ulcerative colitis with intestinal obstruction
 K51.813 - Other ulcerative colitis with fistula
 K51.814 - Other ulcerative colitis with abscess
 K51.818 - Other ulcerative colitis with other complication
 K51.819 - Other ulcerative colitis with unspecified complications
 K51.9 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified
 K51.90 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified, without complications
 K51.91 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified, with complications
 K51.911 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with rectal bleeding
 K51.912 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with intestinal obstruction
 K51.913 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with fistula
 K51.914 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with abscess
 K51.918 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with other complication
 K51.919 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with unspecified complications
Crohn's disease – This is a chronic, long-term disease that causes inflammation of the
digestive tract causing abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and
malnutrition. Also called ileitis or enteritis, the condition can affect any part of the gut, from
the mouth all the way down to the anus. In most cases, the condition affects the lower part
of the small intestine – “ileum”. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention suggest that, Crohn’s disease affects 26-199 people per 100,000 (2019
statistics). Although the condition can start at any age, it usually starts between the age
group of 15-40 years.
Symptoms can be subtle and mild or severe and obvious. If the inflammation spreads deep
into the tissues, it can even result in perforation of the intestine. Signs and symptoms of
this condition may depend and vary on which part of the gut is affected. Typical symptoms
include – pain, altered appetite, anemia, fatigue, ulcers in the gut, rectal bleeding and anal
fissures and weight loss. There is no specific cure for Crohn’s disease, but certain
treatments can help reduce the disease reoccurrences. Treatment modalities include –
medication, surgery and nutritional supplements. Medications include – anti-inflammatory
drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics and anti-diarrheal and fluid replacements. In most cases,

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Crohn’s disease patients undergo surgery at some point. Surgery may help reduce
symptoms that do not respond to medications or to correct other severe complications like
– blockage, abscess and bleeding. Even though Crohn’s is a chronic disease, controlling
symptoms can help people lead a normal life. Early diagnosis and treatment can help
prevent serious complications. Related ICD-10 codes include –
 K50 - Crohn's disease [regional enteritis]
 K50.0 - Crohn's disease of small intestine
 K50.00 - Crohn's disease of small intestine, without complications
 K50.01 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with complications
 K50.011 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with rectal bleeding
 K50.012 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with intestinal obstruction
 K50.013 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with fistula
 K50.014 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with abscess
 K50.018 -Crohn's disease of small intestine with other complication
 K50.019 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with unspecified complications
 K50.1 - Crohn's disease of large intestine
 K50.10 -Crohn's disease of large intestine, without complications
 K50.11 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with complications
 K50.111 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with rectal bleeding
 K50.112 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with intestinal obstruction
 K50.113 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with fistula
 K50.114 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with abscess
 K50.118 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with other complication
 K50.119 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with unspecified complications
 K50.8 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine
 K50.80 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine, without complications
 K50.81 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with
complications
 K50.811 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with rectal
bleeding
 K50.812 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with intestinal
obstruction
 K50.813 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with fistula
 K50.814 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with abscess
 K50.818 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with other
complication
 K50.819 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with unspecified
complications
 K50.9 Crohn's disease, unspecified

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 K50.90 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, without complications
 K50.91 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with complications
 K50.911 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with rectal bleeding
 K50.912 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with intestinal obstruction
 K50.913 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with fistula
 K50.914 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with abscess
 K50.918 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with other complication
 K50.919 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with unspecified complications
Medical billing and coding for inflammatory bowel diseases can be challenging. Healthcare
providers need to be well-informed about the specific ICD-10 codes to report these two
common inflammatory bowel diseases. Relying on the services of a reputable medical
billing and coding company can help physicians with accurate claim submission for optimal
reimbursement.