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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

N18.9Chronic kidney disease, unspecified

✓ Billable / specific

N18.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for chronic kidney disease, unspecified. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Looking up by condition? See ICD-10 code for CKD.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About N18.9

N18.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for chronic kidney disease, unspecified. It belongs to category N18 (chronic kidney disease (CKD)), block N17-N19 (acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease) and chapter 14 (diseases of the genitourinary system). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within N18, choose N18.9 (Chronic kidney disease, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: chronic kidney disease, stage 1 (N18.1), chronic kidney disease, stage 2 (mild) (N18.2), chronic kidney disease, stage 3 (moderate) (N18.3), chronic kidney disease, stage 4 (severe) (N18.4), chronic kidney disease, stage 5 (N18.5) and end stage renal disease (N18.6).

Code first any associated: diabetic chronic kidney disease (E08.22, E09.22, E10.22, E11.22, E13.22) and hypertensive chronic kidney disease (I12.-, I13.-).

Use an additional code, if applicable, to identify: associated cachexia (E88.A) and kidney transplant status (Z94.0).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 008 (Simultaneous Pancreas, Islet Cell and Kidney Transplant, relative weight 5.5146), DRG 019 (Simultaneous Pancreas, Islet Cell and Kidney Transplant with Hemodialysis, relative weight 7.5493), DRG 682 (Renal Failure with MCC, relative weight 1.4656), DRG 683 (Renal Failure with CC, relative weight 0.8647) and DRG 684 (Renal Failure without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6003), in Pre-MDC and MDC 11 (Diseases and Disorders of the Kidney and Urinary Tract), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 585.9 (chronic kidney disease, unspecified).

Coding notes

Applicable toConditions and synonyms classified to this code
  • Chronic renal disease
  • Chronic renal failure NOS
  • Chronic renal insufficiency
  • Chronic uremia NOS
  • Diffuse sclerosing glomerulonephritis NOS

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to N18.9.

› From N18 Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Code first
Use additional code
  • code, if applicable, to identify:
  • associated cachexia (E88.A)
  • kidney transplant status (Z94.0)

Broader instructions also apply from N17-N19 Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease and Chapter 14: Diseases of the genitourinary system.

Alphabetic index entries

17 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to N18.9.

Codes whose notes reference N18.9

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 585.9Chronic kidney disease, unspecifiedexact

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about N18.9

Is N18.9 billable?

Yes. N18.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can N18.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict N18.9 as a principal diagnosis.

Is N18.9 a CC or MCC?

No. N18.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does N18.9 group to?

N18.9 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 008 (Simultaneous Pancreas, Islet Cell and Kidney Transplant), MS-DRG 019 (Simultaneous Pancreas, Islet Cell and Kidney Transplant with Hemodialysis), MS-DRG 682 (Renal Failure with MCC), MS-DRG 683 (Renal Failure with CC) and MS-DRG 684 (Renal Failure without CC/MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for N18.9?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map N18.9 to ICD-9-CM 585.9.